The evaluation of gallbladder function by quantitative radionuclide cholescintigraphy in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Twenty-nine patients (24 males, 5 females; aged 62.8 +/- 10.1 years) with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) without gallstones and impaired liver function were included in our study. The patients were categorized by blood sugar control and disease duration. Twelve normal controls (10 males, 2 females; aged 62.8 +/- 12.4 years) were also studied for comparison. The gallbladder filling fraction (FF) and ejection fraction (EF) were calculated following the method of Krishnamurthy et al. The results showed no significant difference (P > 0.5) between (1) NIDDM and normal controls in FF (69.1 +/- 29.4 versus 67.5 +/- 24.0%) and EF (45.0 +/- 23.5 versus 54.8 +/- 10.0%) by a t-test, (2) good and poor blood sugar control in FF (64.9 +/- 30.9 versus 73.7 +/- 26.4%) and EF (42.0 +/- 25.4 versus 54.8 +/- 10.0%) by a Mann-Whitney U test, (3) long and short disease durations in FF (70.9 +/- 29.7 versus 67.9 +/- 28.7%) and EF (37.9 +/- 20.7 versus 50.0 +/- 24.1%) by a Mann-Whitney U test. In conclusion, the results challenge some previous reports and warrant further research.