Age and sex dependency of bile duct diameter and bile duct pressure--an ERC manometry study

Using ERC-manometry diameters of the common bile duct (CBD) the common hepatic duct (CHD) as well as CBD pressure before and after opacification were determined in 35 non-cholecystectomized patients without extrahepatic cholestasis. We found a significant rise of both CBD and CHD diameters as well as CBD pressure recorded before the injection of contrast medium with increasing age. (p less than 0.005, less than 0.001 and less than 0.05 respectively). Following the opacification CBD pressure became elevated. Again this increase tended to be more pronounced in older patients although this association was lacking statistical significance. In the presence of comparable age female patients (n = 16) exhibited higher CBD and CHD diameters (n.s.) as well as CBD pressure values (p less than 0.05) than male patients (n = 19). We conclude that in the absence of extrahepatic cholestasis bile duct diameter as well as bile duct pressure rise significantly with increasing age. Furthermore women tend to have higher diameters and pressure values than men.