title: Recurrent common bile duct stones composed of ursodeoxycholic acid: a report of four cases.
abstract: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is often used to treat cholesterol gallstones. UDCA makes cholesterol stones soluble, thereby improving biliary emptying. Conversely, however, UDCA can also form stones via an unknown mechanism, as shown in a few previous reports of cholangitis caused by the formation of UDCA stones in the common bile duct (CBD). We herein report four cases of recurrent cholangitis resulting from UDCA stones. The withdrawal of UDCA administration was highly effective in these patients. The details of these four cases suggest that clinicians must rethink the indications for UDCA treatment in cases in which cholangitis caused by CBD stones frequently recurs over a short period of time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Toranomon Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Tsunao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Rikako
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid