Study to Determine the Association of Cholelithiasis, Choledocholithiasis and Hypothyroidism

Introduction: Hypothyroidism causes dyslipidaemia and stasis of bile and sphincter of oddi dysfunction causing cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis. Aim: to study the prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients presenting with cholelithiasis/ choledocholithiasis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients having cholelithiasis/ choledocholithiasis. All the patients were assessed for thyroid profile, lipid profile and prepared for cholecystectomy after abdominal ultrasound. Results: Among 100 patients, the majority them were in 40–49 (40%) years age group, 24 (35.29%) of them were females and 16 (50.00%) were males. 26 patients have hypothyroidism (7- clinical and 19 – subclinical). The mean total cholesterol level was 151.46 ± 26.57 mg/dl in euthyroid and 232.34 ± 33.72 mg/dl in hypothyroid patients, mean LDL level was 95.27 ± 21.46 mg/dl in euthyroid and 153.92 ± 28.68 mg/dl in hypothyroid patients which was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Mean HDL level was comparable in all patients. Among the hypothyroidism patients 18 (69.29%) were female and 8 (30.77%) patients were male. Conclusion: When treating patients with cholelithiasis or choledocholithiasis, physicians should be aware of the possible background of hypothyroidism and should consider evaluation of thyroid function in female patients at least 40 years of age.