No Role for Ursodiol in Asymptomatic Cholelithiasis

In patients in whom cholelithiasis with numerous stones is incidentally noted on imaging, ursodeoxycholic acid should be considered to help dissolve the stones and reduce the risk of biliary disease.

a. True
b. False

ANSWER: FALSE

Ursodeoxycholic acid (ursodiol) has not been demonstrated to be very effective in stone dissolution. The prevalence of cholelithiasis is up to 20% in Western countries; the majority of patients will remain symptom-free over their life-time. There is currently no role for the use of ursodiol in these patients.