Obesity and the risk and prognosis of gallstone disease and pancreatitis.

Leonilde Bonfrate, David Q-H Wang, Gabriella Garruti, Piero Portincasa

Journal: Best practice & research. Clinical gastroenterology 2014;28(4):623-35

PMID: 25194180

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Obesity is a risk factor for the formation of cholesterol gallstones and exposes patients to increased risk of gallstone-related complications and cholecystectomy. Rapid weight loss achieved by very low calorie diets or bariatric surgery is also a risk factor for cholelithiasis in obese patients, and therapy should take into account the higher prevalence of gallstones, the possibility of more frequent complications and the need for prophylactic treatment with oral ursodeoxycholic acid during weight loss. Obesity is also frequent in children and adolescents, and the burden of cholesterol cholelithiasis is increasing in this population. The chance to develop acute pancreatitis and the severity of the disease are higher in obese subjects because of specific pathogenic factors, including supersaturated bile and crystal formation, rapid weight loss, and visceral obesity. All health policies aimed at reducing the incidence of obesity worldwide will decrease the incidence of gallstones and gallstone-related complications. The pathophysiological scenarios and the therapeutic implications for obesity, gallstone disease, and pancreatitis are discussed.

Address: Residency Programme in Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Emergency and Organ Transplants, Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Clinica Medica "A. Murri", University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2014.07.013

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

Other Literature Sources:

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Cholecystectomy, Cholelithiasis, Humans, Obesity, Pancreatitis, Prognosis, Risk Factors