Biliary Cast Syndrome in an Opium Inhaler

• Published in: Case reports in gastroenterology Vol. 7; no. 3; pp. 376 - 380
• Main Authors: Dabiri, Reza, Asadzadeh Aghdae, Hamid, Rajabalinia, Hasan, Mohammad Alizadeh, Amir Houshang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 05.09.2013; Karger Publishers
• Subjects: Biliary cast syndrome; Biliary dyskinesia; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Opium; Published: September 2013; Biliary dyskinesia; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Opium; Biliary cast syndrome
• ISSN: 1662-0631; 1662-0631
• DOI: 10.1159/000355165

Biliary cast syndrome (BCS) is an uncommon complication which is mostly described in orthotopic liver transplantation. However, BCS has also been reported rarely in non-liver transplant patients. We describe a male long-term opium inhaler with BCS who underwent successful endoscopic cast removal by balloon enteroscopy-guided endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. A 52-year-old man, who was a known case of opium addiction, presented with the chief complaint of epigastric pain for 1 week prior to admission. Routine laboratory evaluation revealed cholestatic liver enzyme elevation. A cholestatic pattern was seen in radiographic modalities. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed a linear filling defect in the intra- and extrahepatic duct. A long biliary cast was successfully removed using an extractor balloon. After removal of the biliary cast the patient is receiving ursodeoxycholic acid and does not report any problem 4 months after treatment. It seems that biliary dyskinesia due to long-term opium use can be a predisposing factor for biliary cast formation.