title: Can ethanol therapies injure the bile ducts?
abstract: Administration of ethanol, whether applied directly to tissue or via an intra-arterial route, has been widely used to treat a variety of hepatic disorders, most importantly hepatocellular carcinoma. Animal studies, however, have demonstrated that intravascular hepatic ethanol therapy causes significant bile duct injury, and therefore, many centers have used intravascular ethanol applications with caution. A case of extensive bile duct injury in a 35-year-old female with a symptomatic hepatic hemangioma treated with ethanol embolization is presented. Although a seemingly rare complication, the possibility of bile duct injury should be considered prior to planned ethanol liver treatment, and a high index of suspicion should be maintained should signs of hepatic dysfunction subsequently arise.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Leonidas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Koniaris
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seibel
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Geschwind
authors.forename: James V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Sitzmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries*; D002758:Cholangiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol