Causes of Gallstones

Causes of Gallstones (Diseases Database):

The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Gallstones that are listed by the Diseases Database:

• Sickle cell disease
• Somatostatinoma
• Clofibrate
• Erythropoietic protoporphyria
• Hypercalcaemia
• Combined oral contraceptive pill
• Hereditary spherocytosis
• Somatostatin
• Cystic fibrosis
• Haemoglobin E disease
• Haemolytic anaemia
• Lanreotide

Gallstones Causes: Risk Factors

The following conditions have been cited in various sources as potentially causal risk factors related to Gallstones:

• Age - especially over 60
• Obesity
• Dieting
• Gastric bypass surgery - stomach reduction surgery
• Race - High risk for Native Americans
• Native Americans
• Pima Indians
• more risk factors »

Race Patterns for Gallstones Causes:

Racial Information for Gallstones: Native Americans have the highest prevalence of gallstones in the United States. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, 70% of women... (Source: excerpt from Native American Women's Health: NWHIC) ...more »

Gallstones Causes: Male-Female Gender Ratio

Gender of Patients for Gallstones: women 2:1 men...more »

Gallstones: Related Medical Conditions

To research the causes of Gallstones, consider researching the causes of these these diseases that may be similar, or associated with Gallstones:

• Cholesterol stones
• Pigment stones
• Mixed stones
• Gallbladder disease
• Cholecystitis
• Choledocholithiasis
• Cholangitis
• Common bile duct
• CBD
• Biliary tree
• Gallbladder sludge
• Cholesterol
• Sickle cell disease

Gallstones: Causes and Types

Causes of Types of Gallstones: Review the cause informationfor the various types of Gallstones:

• Silent gallstones - unknown gallstones without symptoms
• Symptomatic gallstones - causing symptoms
• Cholesterol stones - about 80% of cases
• Pigment stones
• Mixed stones
• more types...»

Causes of Broader Categories of Gallstones: Review the causal information about the various more general categories of medical conditions:

• Digestive Diseases
• Chronic digestive diseases
• Biliary disorder
• Gall bladder conditions
• Stones
• more types...»

Gallstones as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Gallstones as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Gallstones. Our database lists the following as having Gallstones as a complication of that condition:

• Alpha thalassemia
• Alpha thalassemia -- Hemoglobin H disease
• Alpha thalassemia major
• Beta thalassemia
• Beta Thalassemia intermedia
• Biliary cirrhosis
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Crohn's disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Hereditary spherocytosis
• Secondary Biliary Cirrhosis
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Spherocytosis
• Spherocytosis, type 1
• Spherocytosis, type 2
• Spherocytosis, type 3
• Spherocytosis, type 4
• Spherocytosis, type 5

Gallstones as a symptom:

Conditions listing Gallstones as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Gallstones. Our database lists the following as having Gallstones as a symptom of that condition:

• Caroli Disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Cirrhosis of liver
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
• Familial hyperlipoproteinemia
• Hereditary elliptocytosis
• Hyperlipoproteinemia type 3
• Protoporphyria erythropoietic
• Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
• Pyruvate kinase deficiency, hemolytic anemia
• Somatostatinoma
• Spherocytosis
• Triosephosphate isomerase 1

Medications or substances causing Gallstones:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Gallstones as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Kliogest
• Oestriol
• Ovestin tablets and cream
• Oestrone
• more drugs...»

See full list of 21 medications causing Gallstones

What causes Gallstones?

Article excerpts about the causes of Gallstones:

Gallstones: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Cholesterol Stones
Scientists believe cholesterol stones form when bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts, or when the gallbladder does not empty as it should for some other reason.

Pigment Stones
The cause of pigment stones is uncertain. They tend to develop in people who have cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia.

Other Factors
It is believed that the mere presence of gallstones may cause more gallstones to develop. However, other factors that contribute to gallstones have been identified, especially for cholesterol stones.

• Obesity. Obesity is a major risk factor for gallstones, especially in women. A large clinical study showed that being even moderately overweight increases one's risk for developing gallstones. The most likely reason is that obesity tends to reduce the amount of bile salts in bile, resulting in more cholesterol. Obesity also decreases gallbladder emptying.

• Estrogen. Excess estrogen from pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, or birth control pills appears to increase cholesterol levels in bile and decrease gallbladder movement, both of which can lead to gallstones.

• Ethnicity. Native Americans have a genetic predisposition to secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile. In fact, they have the highest rates of gallstones in the United States. A majority of Native American men have gallstones by age 60. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, 70 percent of women have gallstones by age 30. Mexican-American men and women of all ages also have high rates of gallstones.

• Gender. Women between 20 and 60 years of age are twice as likely to develop gallstones as men.

• Age. People over age 60 are more likely to develop gallstones than younger people.

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs. Drugs that lower cholesterol levels in blood actually increase the amount of cholesterol secreted in bile. This in turn can increase the risk of gallstones.

• Diabetes. People with diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acids called triglycerides. These fatty acids increase the risk of gallstones.

• Rapid weight loss. As the body metabolizes fat during rapid weight loss, it causes the liver to secrete extra cholesterol into bile, which can cause gallstones.

• Fasting.Fasting decreases gallbladder movement, causing the bile to become overconcentrated with cholesterol, which can lead to gallstones.

Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Most researchers believe three conditions are necessary to form gallstones. First, the bile becomes supersaturated with cholesterol, which means the bile contains more cholesterol than the bile salts can dissolve. Second, an imbalance of proteins or other substances in the bile causes the cholesterol to start to crystallize. Third, the gallbladder does not contract enough to empty its bile regularly. (Source: excerpt from Dieting and Gallstones: NIDDK)

Medical news summaries relating to Gallstones:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Gallstones:

• All about obesity
• Operation options for obesity
• More news »

Related information on causes of Gallstones:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Gallstones may be found in:

• Risk factors for Gallstones
• Medications that may cause Gallstones
• Genetics of Gallstones
• Hidden causes of Gallstones