A 25-year-old woman with sickle cell anemia complains of steady pain in her right upper quadrant with radiation to the right shoulder, especially after large or fatty meals. Her physician diagnoses gallstones. Of which of the following compounds are these stones most likely composed?
Bilirubin is a degradative product of hemoglobin metabolism. Bilirubin (pigment) stones are specifically associated with excessive bilirubin production in hemolytic anemias, including sickle cell anemia. Bilirubin stones can also be seen in hepatic cirrhosis and liver fluke infestation. Calcium oxalate stones and cystine stones are found in the kidney, rather than the gallbladder. Pure cholesterol stones are less common than mixed gallstones, but have the same risk factors, including obesity and multiple pregnancies. Mixed stones are the common "garden variety" gallstones, found especially in obese, middle aged patients, with a female predominance. Ref: Longo D.L., Fauci A.S., Kasper D.L., Hauser S.L., Jameson J.L., Loscalzo J. (2012). Chapter 311. Diseases of the Gallbladder and Bile Ducts. In D.L. Longo, A.S. Fauci, D.L. Kasper, S.L. Hauser, J.L. Jameson, J. Loscalzo (Eds), Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18e.
Calcium bilirubinate
Calcium oxalate
Cholesterol
Cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate