Gallstones and gallbladder wall thickening in patients with cirrhosis: Prevalence and clinical impact

Table 2 Proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms behind increased prevalence of cholelithiasis and asymptomatic gallbladder wall thickening in patients with cirrhosis

Patients with cirrhosis	Pathophysiologic mechanisms
Altered bile composition	Impaired bile acid synthesis and secretion; supersaturation of bile with cholesterol; hypersplenism/chronic hemolysis
Gallbladder hypomotility/bile stasis	Autonomic dysfunction-impaired gallbladder emptying
Portal hypertension	Impaired venous outflow; bacterial translocation; ascites
Hypoalbuminemia	Reduced oncotic pressure
Cause of cirrhosis	HCV; MASLD

HCV: Hepatitis C; MASLD: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.