[Treatment of patients with gallstones with chenodeoxycholic acid (author's transl)].

24 patients with cholesterol gallstones were treated with chenodeoxycholic acid. In 7 out of 10 patients the follow-up showed complete dissolution of the gallstones after 7 to 18 months of treatment with 1 g of chenodeoxycholic acid daily. Two patients with biliary duct concrements had to be operated, in a third patient no change could be observed after treatment for 17 months. A transient increase of the transaminase GOT was seen in four patients. There were no changes of serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. 14 patients had chologenic diarrhoea lasting only a few days. Toxic side effects indisputably due to chenodeoxycholic acid therapy have not been seen so far.