Cholecystolithiasis in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with haemodialysis: a study of prevalence.

Gallstones are quite prevalent in western countries (10-20% of adult population), but there are very few data about the prevalence of cholecystolithiasis in haemodialysis (HD) patients. In our study, we found--with real-time ultrasound--a prevalence of gallstones of 16% in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with HD which is similar to the prevalence in a non-uraemic control group matched for age and sex. In most of our HD patients, cholecystolithiasis was asymptomatic. HD patients with cholecystolithiasis were statistically significantly older than patients without gallstones. We found no differences in sex or duration of HD treatment in patients with and without cholecystolithiasis. The prevalence of cholecytolithiasis in patients with ESRD on HD is similar to that of a normal population though some data suggested a higher prevalence in HD patients.