Association of cholelithiasis with hypothyroidism

Abstract

Hypothyroidism causes dyslipidemia and stasis of bile and sphincter of oddi dysfunction causing cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis. Therefore patients with hypothyroidism should be screened for gall stones which can be managed prior to development of complications. A case control study was done comparing 110 cases and 110 controls were sampled. A significant portion of cases were diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism. With an odds ratio of 14.3. Female sex, age greater than 50 years, obesity, dyslipidemia, non-vegetarian diet were also significant risk factors for cholelithiasis. The bile leak and need for drain placement was found to be higher in hypothyroid patients as compared to euthyroid patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.