Increased deoxycholic acid absorption and gall stones in acromegalic patients treated with octreotide: More evidence for a connection between slow transit constipation and gall stones

Abstract

Acromegalic patients treated with octreotide have prolonged colonic transit, increased bacterial formation, and subsequent absorption of deoxycholic acid that is indicated by an increased proportion of deoxycholic acid in plasma bile acids. Enrichment of deoxycholic acid in the circulating bile acid pool leads to supersaturated bile and cholesterol gall stones.