Gallstone dissolution with chenodeoxycholic acid. A clinical study.

Out of 95 patients with radiolucent gallstones who enrolled in a clinical study with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDC) for gallstone dissolution 75 patients with cholecystolithiasis completed 12 months of treatment. As a side effect 31% of patients reported intermittent diarrhea which did not cause cessation of therapy or missing of work. The incidence of biliary colic was markedly decreased during treatment in comparison to the rate in the year before. From more than 20 laboratory values checked before start and every 3 months during therapy only aminotransferases increased up to 3 fold in 20% of patients. gamma-GT elevated in 31% of patients before treatment improved in half of these patients d…