Probability of developing gallstones and related risk factors in 400 cirrhotics

Objective: To estimate the cumulative probability of developing gallstones and to evaluate possible risk factors in a large series of Italian cirrhotic patients, free of gallstones at enrolment. Setting: Gastroenterology unit at a Milan teaching hospital and four general hospitals in northern Italy. Patients: The study included 400 consecutive cirrhotic patients (257 men and 143 women, mean age 58 ± 10 SD and 61 ± 10 SD years, respectively). Cirrhosis was due to alcohol abuse (n = 169), chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (n = 31) or non-A, non-B hepatitis virus (NANBV; n = 107, including 75 positive for anti-hepatitis C virus), concomitant chronic hepatitis B virus or NANBV infection and alcohol abuse (n = 50), and miscellaneous causes (n = 43)