THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEART DISEASE AND GALL-BLADDER DISEASE

Abstract

A review of the literature strongly suggests an association between heart disease and gallbladder disease. Experimental and clinical evidence indicates that coronary blood flow may be decreased and arrhythmias produced by distention of the biliary tract. Angina pectoris, arrhythmias and electrocardiographic abnormalities may improve after removal of the diseased gallbladder particularly if gallstones are present. Patients with gallbladder disease may present symptoms indicative of heart disease and patients with heart disease may present symptoms indicative of gallbladder disease as pain from the gallbladder and heart may be referred to the same area, sometimes making diagnosis difficult. Cases are presented which show these associations. The diseased gallbladder may be part of a trigger mechanism potentiating angina and cardiac arrhythmias. Thus patients with these conditions and with definite gallbladder disease should have cholecystectomy. The mortality from cholecystectomy in patients with angina pectoris is approximately 3%.