Cholelithiasis and Wilson disease.

We have studied three children with Wilson disease who had clinical symptoms suggestive of cholecystitis as well as radiologic evidence of gallstones, subsequently proven at the time of laparotomy. The gallstones from the patients with Wilson disease had an appreciably higher content of cholesterol than gallstones from age-matched children with hemolytic disease. Since gallstones may be present for years before they produce clinical symptoms, young patients with Wilson disease should undergo routine investigation for the presence of stones; cholelithiasis should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in such patients.