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Bile and stone analysis in two infants with brown pigment gallstones and infected bile

W R Treem1, P F Malet, G R Gourley

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford.

Gastroenterology
|February 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial infections in the biliary tract may cause spontaneous gallstone formation in infants. This study details bile and stone composition in two infants with obstructive jaundice due to cholelithiasis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Biliary Medicine
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Obstructive jaundice in infants can be caused by gallstones (cholelithiasis).
  • Congenital biliary tract abnormalities are typically associated with biliary stasis and stone formation.

Observation:

  • Two infants under three months old presented with obstructive jaundice due to gallstones.
  • Neither infant had congenital biliary tract abnormalities causing stasis.
  • Gallbladder bile cultures revealed abundant bacterial growth in both infants.

Findings:

  • Bile analysis showed no cholesterol saturation.
  • Unconjugated bilirubin and stercobilin were present in gallbladder bile.
  • Gallstones were identified as brown pigment gallstones with calcium palmitate, suggesting spontaneous formation linked to bacterial infection.

Implications:

  • This research provides the first detailed analysis of infant bile and gallstones.
  • Findings support the hypothesis that bacterial biliary tract infections can lead to spontaneous brown pigment gallstone formation in infants.
  • Highlights the importance of considering bacterial infection in the etiology of infant cholelithiasis.

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