Association between hematological disorders and gallbladder stones: A review of current evidence

Figure 1 The key pathophysiological mechanisms linking hematological disorders to pigment gallstone formation. On the left side, hematological conditions such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and hereditary spherocytosis are shown, with arrows pointing to the excessive hemolysis and genetic mutations (e.g., uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 gene mutation) that contribute to increased bilirubin production. This excess bilirubin is released into the bile, where it precipitates as calcium bilirubinate, forming pigment stones in the gallbladder. On the right side, the impaired gallbladder motility and altered bile composition (such as in conditions like iron deficiency anemia) are highlighted as additional contributing factors to stone formation.