Drug-associated cholelithiasis: a case of sulindac stone formation and the incorporation of sulindac metabolites into the gallstones.

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.

[Vasculitis-related acute abdomen in systemic lupus erythematosus--ultrasound appearances in lupus patients with intra-abdominal vasculitis].

Although an acute abdomen often occurs in lupus patients, definitive treatment is commonly delayed due to the difficulty in diagnosis. We performed an abdominal ultrasound (US) in two patients with severe abdominal pain and recognized mural thickenings of intestinal walls. In the first case high dose prednisone was given for severe abdominal pain, with subsequent perforation of sigmoid colon. Pathological specimens showed a thrombotic vasculitis in the mesenteric artery and arteriole of intestinal walls. In the second case physical examination elicited a rebound tenderness. An abdominal X-ray demonstrated a gasless ileus and US also showed marked thickening of intestinal walls, 16 mm in thickness. A CT scan revealed the same findings in the entire bowel. After high dose methylprednisolone was administered, her symptoms markedly improved. The mural thickenings disappeared within 10 days as seen by abdominal ultrasound examination. The US is very useful in order to make an early diagnosis of intestinal vasculitis, showing as edema (but non-specific) of intestinal wall and we can use it safely and repetitively without exposure to radiation, compared with other examinations, such as CT scan and gastrointestinal contrast study etc. The US is not only useful in diagnosis, but also helpful for follow up of patients after the initiation of treatment.