Ceftriaxone-associated acute gallbladder enlargement - an unexpected diagnosis in the child with urinary tract infection.

Unlabelled: Biliary sludge and/or biliary pseudolithiasis occur in patients treated with ceftriaxone with prevalence of 3-57%. Biliary obstruction can be the cause of the acute gallbladder enlargement. It is a minor complication, that usually does not give clinical symptoms and resolves once the drug is discontinued. The authors present a case of a 5-month old boy treated for the acute pyelonephritis. Routine ultrasound, performed on the 5th day of treatment with ceftriaxone, showed gallbladder enlargement. In the consecutive studies small gallblader sludge was visible. Patient had no symptoms related to the gallbladder enlargement. Ultrasound performed 6 weeks from the drug discontinuation was completely normal.

Conclusions: Patients treated with ceftroiaxone should be monitored for biliary sludge and pseudolithiasis.