Ursodeoxycholic Acid Treatment of Cholesterol Gallstone Disease

Abstract

Bile acid dissolution therapy alone or in combination with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy continues to be a safe and effective non-surgical treatment for highly selected patients with cholesterol gallstone disease. Its disadvantages are the duration of drug treatment and potential stone recurrence. Its advantages, however, are non-invasiveness, low rate of morbidity, and lack of mortality. Considering the variety of options in modern gallstone therapy, the careful selection of treatment should be tailored to the individual patient's clinical and personal situation. This will involve the patient in the decisionmaking process.

Key Words:

• Bile acids
• dissolution therapy
• gallstones
• shock-wave lithotripsy
• ursodeoxycholic acid