Nucleation time and growth time in cholesterol gallstone patients

Factors affecting nucleation time and growth time and effect of UDCA and CDCA

Abstract

Nucleation time (NT) and growth time (GT) were measured in gallbladder bile of patients with cholesterol gallstones. NT was significantly shortened (NT<10 days) in pure cholesterol stones but was moderately shortened (11_??_NT_??_21) in mixed and combination stones. GT also was accelerated (GT<7 days) in cholesterol stones. NT was shortened in increased biliary total protein, but on the contrary, was shortened in decreased apo A-I. NT of bile by UDCA therapy but not CDCA was extended. This suggests that increased apo A-I during UDCA therapy might imply extension of NT. The strong negative correlation between GT and CSI of bile suggests that CSI plays an important role in crystal growth.