Sonography evaluation of gallbladder ejection fraction and volume in diabetic patients: a case control study

The prevalence of gallstones in patients with diabetes mellitus is higher than non-diabetic patients. The pathophysiological mechanism of gallstone formation in type 2 diabetic patients is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this case-control study was the evaluation of gallbladder motor function as one of the contributing factors to gallbladder dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients by gallbladder ultrasound.

In this study, case group included 54 patients with diabetes mellitus and control group consisted of 51 age, sex, and BMI-matched healthy subjects. Ultrasound was performed for all subjects in two groups, one in fasting and the other after eating light meals. Gallbladder volume was measured in the fasting state (V1) and post meal (V2), and the resulting ejection fraction of the gallbladder was calculated. Also, in these subjects, demographic variables such as age, sex, BMI and number of births were analyzed.

Sex ratio age, number of births and BMI was the same in both case and control groups (P> 0.05). In independent t-test analysis, there was no significant relationship between mean V1, V2 and EF in the case and control groups (P> 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference between sex and mean V1, V2 and EF in both groups (P> 0.05). The prevalence of gallstones in the diabetic group was significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.026).

The results of the present study confirmed the high prevalence of gallstones in diabetic patients but there were no statistical deference between groups for gallbladder motor function. However, probably other factors are involved in the formation of gallstones in diabetic individuals.