Gilbert syndrome as a risk factor for the development of cholelithiasis in children

Introduction/Objective. Gilbert syndrome (GS) is the most common hereditary hyperbilirubinemia. As well as mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, it is characterized by the excess of bilirubin monoglucuronide over diglucuronide in the bile and thus increases the risk of biliary calculosis. The aim of the study was to determine the importance of GS as a risk factor in the development of cholelithiasis in children. Methods. The study included a sample of 31 children (14 male and 17 female, mean age 12.16 ? 4.11 years, range 3 to 16.75 years) with symptomatic cholelithiasis The diagnosis of cholelithiasis was based on an ultrasonographic finding and for GS on at least a double increase of unconjugated bilirubin fraction after a three-day hypocaloric diet (400 kcal per day). Results. GS was confirmed in 5 or 16.13% of patients (3 male and 2 female, mean age 14.71 ? 0.55 years, range 14 to 15.3 years). In addition to the GS, in the history of the disease they all had some of the additional risk factors for the development of cholelithiasis. One of them had an identical problem in its mother, one had hereditary elliptocytosis, one ofthem had sudden weight loss, one was overweight and one had premature birth and sepsis. Conclusion. GS registers in one sixth of children with cholelithiasis, but in none of them as the only risk factor for developing this disease. This finding suggests that the GS is a risk factor for the development of cholelithiasis, but not that it is sufficient in that sense.