The Composition of Gallstones from Geriatric Patients Methods for the Determination of Cholesterol and of Black Substances in Gallstones

Summary: 78 female and 31 male Danish gallstone cases found by autopsy were studied. The mass of the gallstone(s) from each patient was recorded and the stones were ground. The content of cholesterol in the mixed material from each patient was determined, using the Liebermann-Burchard reaction. The ratio Gallstone(s) ash - mass/Gallstone (s) - mass was determined, and where this ratio exceeded 0.10, calcium and phosphate determinations were carried out. Subjective description of the stones as 'mixed stones' or 'pigment stones' was substituted by visual comparison of the ground gallstones with a 'grey scale' (black was given the highest value). The values of this quantity and the ash values generally increased with a decreasing content of cholesterol. The content of cholesterol in the gallstones increased with increasing stone mass. The chemical composition of gallstones found by surgery seems to differ from that of gallstones found by autopsy.