Composition of gall stones-microchemical analysis.

The composition of gall stones removed surgically from 31 patients was determined by microchemical analysis. Twenty six had mixed infective, 2 cholesterol and 3 pigment stones. All the stones consisted of combination of various constituents in varying amount. Bilirubin was detected in the centre and peripheral layers of all, protein was found in the centre of 84.6% and cholesterol in the centre of 54% and the peripheral layers of all the gall stones. The findings in this study suggest that infection is the most likely cause of biliary lithogenesis.