Method of dissolving cholesterol-rich calculi with short chain

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for dissolving cholesterol-rich calculi, most preferably gallstones in vivo, comprising contacting the calculus with a fluid compound of the formula R-X, R having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with substituents consisting of hydrogen of halogen, X being halogen, and wherein if X is fluorine, at least one substituent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. Usually R-X is 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (also referred to as Halothane.) Other compounds of particular interest are 2-chloro-1,2,-dibromo-1,1,2-trifluoroethane, 1-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane, 2,3-dibromo-1,1,1-trifluoropropane, 2-iodo-1,1,1-trifluoroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-2,3,3-trifluorocyclobutane, hexafluoro-1,1,3,4,-tetrachlorobutane, 1,1,1-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and 1,2-dibromo-tetrafluoroethane. Furthermore, Halothane and MtBE in combination effectively dissolve cholesterol-rich calculi. Finally, dissolution can be enhanced by adding to the dissolution solvent up to about 50 percent by volume of a lower alcohol. Usually the lower alcohol is ethanol in the amount of about 5 to 40, usually 10 to 30 and preferably about 10 percent by volume. Most preferably in this case, R-X is Halothane or 1,1,1-trichlorotrifluoroethane. Dissolution using previously known solvents such as MtBE is also enhanced by such addition of lower alcohols. In addition, the practical use of MtBE for dissolution can be improved by the addition of the compounds described above as R-X, particularly Halothane, and usually at levels of about 5 to 50 volume percent Halothane.