Ultrasound survey of gallstones and other hepatobiliary disorders in patients with Crohn's disease.

Abdominal ultrasound was performed in conjunction with liver function tests in 38 patients with small bowel Crohn's disease and a similar number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Five (13%) patients had had previous cholecystectomies for cholelithiasis, and eight (21%) were found to have gallstones on ultrasound. Thus, a total of 34% of patients as compared with 8% of controls had gallstones (P less than 0.01). Compared with 8% of controls, 53% of patients had evidence of at least one biochemical or ultrasonic hepatobiliary abnormality (P less than 0.001). A bright liver echo pattern may be indicative of portal triaditis. The high prevalence of gallstones in Crohn's disease should be considered in any patient who continues to complain of abdominal pain despite otherwise appearing to be in remission.