Causes
For cholesterol and mixed stones there are three main causes which lead to their formation, these are:
Metabolic Causes: Any condition which increases the level of cholesterol in bile. Conditions include: aging, women on OCPs, obesity and taking clofibrate.
Infection: Although bile is a sterile solution, but an infection might trigger formation of gallstones. Imaging studies have shown that bacteria act as a nidus i.e. a centre point along which the cholesterol and other salts start to form concentric layers leading to gallstone formation.
Biliary Stasis: Conditions in which gallbladder contractility is reduced like pregnancy and oestrogen levels.
Conditions which cause the formation of pigmented stones are:
Haemolytic Anaemia: Conditions in which there is an increase in the production of bilirubin for e.g. hereditary spherocytosis and thalassemia etc.
Liver cirrhosis
Infestation of biliary tree by worms.
Stones in the biliary ducts can be classified into two types:
Secondary Stones: Formed in the gallbladder but during contraction got pushed into the duct.
Primary Stones: These are formed in the duct itself, caused by conditions in which there is a prolonged obstruction of the ducts for e.g. parasite infestation.
Metabolic Causes: Any condition which increases the level of cholesterol in bile. Conditions include: aging, women on OCPs, obesity and taking clofibrate.
Infection: Although bile is a sterile solution, but an infection might trigger formation of gallstones. Imaging studies have shown that bacteria act as a nidus i.e. a centre point along which the cholesterol and other salts start to form concentric layers leading to gallstone formation.
Biliary Stasis: Conditions in which gallbladder contractility is reduced like pregnancy and oestrogen levels.
Conditions which cause the formation of pigmented stones are:
Haemolytic Anaemia: Conditions in which there is an increase in the production of bilirubin for e.g. hereditary spherocytosis and thalassemia etc.
Liver cirrhosis
Infestation of biliary tree by worms.
Stones in the biliary ducts can be classified into two types:
Secondary Stones: Formed in the gallbladder but during contraction got pushed into the duct.
Primary Stones: These are formed in the duct itself, caused by conditions in which there is a prolonged obstruction of the ducts for e.g. parasite infestation.