sulindac and Cholelithiasis

A case of drug-associated cholelithiasis (sulindac chlecystohepatolithiasis) in a 63-yr-old woman is reported. The patient was admitted to our hospital to undergo treatment for rheumatoid arthritis of 20 yr duration. She was treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID: sulindac). Two months later, she presented with right upper quadrant pain. Diagnostic studies including ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), led to the diagnosis of cholecystohepatolithiasis. She underwent cholecystectomy and choledochotomy with an extraction of intrahepatic stones. The intrahepatic stones were light yellow in color with a claylike appearance. Unexpectedly, an infrared spectroscopic analysis of the stone showed it to consist of sulindac metabolites. In addition, the dilated segment of the intrahepatic bile duct naturally returned to its normal size after the discontinuation of the drug administration. This is the first reported case of sulindac stone formation in the bile duct. No similar problems with other NSAIDs have been reported previously.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Cholelithiasis; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Sulindac

Two patients with sulindac-induced acute pancreatitis presented clinically with abdominal pain, right upper-quadrant tenderness, markedly increased serum amylase values, and hyperbilirubinemia, findings initially suggestive of gallstone pancreatitis. Ultrasound examinations were negative for gallstones. One patient was inadvertently treated two years later with sulindac with recurrence of abdominal pain, marked hyperamylasemia, and jaundice. Clinical resolution was rapid with each episode following discontinuation of sulindac.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aged; Cholelithiasis; Female; Humans; Indenes; Male; Pancreatitis; Sulindac