Premawardhena, A.P.Fisher, C.A.Fathihu, F.de Silva, S.Perera, W.Peto, T.E.Olivieri, N.F.Weatherall, D.J.2014-10-292014-10-292001Lancet.2001; 357(9272): 1945-46Lancet Publishing Grouphttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1484Chronic hyperbilirubinaemia, gallstone formation, and gall bladder disease are unusually common in people with haemoglobin E beta thalassaemia in Sri Lanka. To determine whether this has a genetic basis we compared the bilirubin levels and frequency of gallstones in patients with different alleles of the UGT*1 gene. There was a significantly higher bilirubin level in those with the 7/7 genotypes compared with 6/6 and 6/7 genotype (p=0.032 and 0.0015 respectively), who also appeared more prone to gallstone formation. These results suggest that the UGT*1 genotpe is of importance in the genesis of gallstones in this population of patients.ArticleMedicine