Gallbladder stone or sludge related to ceftriaxone treatment

Abstract

Ceftriaxone is a widely used third generation cephalosporin. Transient gallbladder stone or sludge formation called pseudolithiasis. We planned a pilot study, to evaluate the incidence of gallbladder pseudolithiasis in children treated with Ceftriaxone as most of the Ceftriaxone induced pseudolithiasis cases are asymptomatic. In this study 13 children treated with Ceftriaxone (100 mg/kg/day) for pneumonia and meningitis were examined. Each study patient had ultrasound examinations of gallbladder at the beginning and tenth day of the Ceftriaxone treatment. If any abnormality was detected, scanning was repeated weekly after the end of the ceftriaxone treatment. All of the initial ultrasonographic examinations were normal. Pseudolithiasis was detected in four (%31) of the patients at the tenth day of ceftriaxone therapy, 3 had gallstones and 1 had gallstone together with sludge. Although all patients were asymptomatic, ceftriaxone treatment was discontinued. Pseudolithiasis completely resolved in 22-45 days after the end of the treatment. As a result pseudolithiasis is an expected complication of ceftriaxone treatment, it resolves spontaneously after the treatment.