Incidence of ceftriaxone-associated gallbladder pseudolithiasis

We prospectively evaluated the incidence of gallbladder pseudolithiasis in children treated with high doses of ceftriaxone for a variety of serious infections. We also monitored the time interval needed for this phenomenon to develop and resolve completely after initiation and cessation of treatment, respectively. Included in this study are 44 children treated with ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/d divided into 2 equal intravenous doses and followed by serial abdominal sonography. Eleven children developed pseudolithiasis of gallbladder 2-9 d after initiation of ceftriaxone therapy. Six children (54.5%) developed this complication within the first 3 d. Lithiasis completely resolved 8-23 d after the end of treatment. In conclusion, pseudolithiasis of the gallbladder developed in 25% of sick children and completely resolved in all patients. Early development of this complication was not exceptional. It occurred in more than half of these children.