Abstract
In 20 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 24 healthy controls, gallbladder motility was evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography after stimulation by a standard liquid meal. Results from patients with normal and dis turbed oesophageal function were analysed separately in order to investigate the significance of gallbladder motility as a parameter for gastrointestinal involvement in SSc. All patients showed a marked decrease in gallbladder size after stimulation (patients 61 ±13%; controls 48 ±12%). Patients with oesophageal dysfunction (n=12) had a slightly lower gallbladder contraction (maximal decrease =58±13%) when compared to patients with normal oesophageal function (n=8; 66± 13%); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Gallbladder motility in patients with SSc was not reduced when compared with healthy controls. SSc-induced oesophageal dysfunction was not associated with impaired gallbladder motility. Thus, measurement of gallbladder emptying is not a helpful tool when looking for gastrointestinal involvement in SSc.
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Lock, G., Zeuner, M., Kammerl, M. et al. Gallbladder motility in systemic sclerosis. Rheumatol Int 16, 61–65 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01816437
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01816437