Balakrishnan Subramani1, Maharajan Vellampatty Paramasivam Balasubramanian2, Latha Madhavan3, Ganganesamy Selvam4
BACKGROUND
For decades, there has been discussion whether thyroid disorders could cause gallstone disease. Gallstone formation is a complex process involving various mechanisms affecting the flow of bile and bile content. Hypothyroid patients are found to have biliary stasis because of slowed emptying of bile from the biliary tract into the duodenum. This is attributed to the decreased pro-relaxing action of thyroxine on sphincter of Oddi in hypothyroid individuals. The hallmark laboratory investigation to detect hypothyroidism and also a sensitive indicator for diagnosing early thyroid dysfunction is serum TSH level. Serum TSH level is the most accurate indicator of thyroid function. This study attempts to know the prevalence of hypothyroidism in cholelithiasis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional study was done between April 2014 to September 2014. 50 patients diagnosed as cholelithiasis in Department of General Surgery, Government Royapettah Hospital, were included in the study. Full history, clinical examination, ultrasound abdomen and laboratory blood test for free T3, free T4 and TSH were done for every patient. Data was analysed statistically using SPSS version 19.0.
RESULTS
Out of 50 patients of cholelithiasis, 29 (58%) were females and 21 (42%) were males. Thyroid disorder in form of hypothyroidism was found in 19 (38%) patients. In that, 11 (22%) patients presented with subclinical hypothyroidism and 8 (16%) patients with clinical hypothyroidism.
CONCLUSION
There is an increase in prevalence of hypothyroidism in cholelithiasis in this study. The prevalence was more among >40 years age group. This increase in prevalence could have an effect on the diagnostic and therapeutic workup of cholelithiasis patients.
