RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There are no chilean reports on gallstone dissolution using oral medications. AIM: To measure the proportion of asymptomatic adult women eligible for gallstone dissolution therapy and to test the effectiveness and tolerance of lovastatin for this purpose. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred fifty six women working at health care institutions were subjected to a gallbladder ultrasound examination. Non pregnant women with radiolucent gallstones of less than 2 cm phi were invited to receive lovastatin 20 mg od and were followed during six months. RESULTS: Twenty two women had gallstones and eight eligible women received lovastatin therapy. No reduction in stone size was observed in these women. CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of asymptomatic women with gallstones are eligible for oral dissolution therapy. Lovastatin did not reduce gallstone size after six months of therapy.