Intrahepatic cholestasis with gallstones in two siblings: a new hepatobiliary syndrome in association with anomalous arrangement of pancreaticobiliary ducts.

Two siblings (a 2-year-old female and 11-month-old male) with similar onset of obstructive jaundice and clinical manifestations from early infancy are described. The jaundice fluctuated but never completely disappeared. Abnormal amounts of cholate, chenodeoxycholate and ursodeoxycholate were found in serum bile acid fractions. Pruritus, hyperbilirubinemia of predominantly the conjugated fraction and bilirubinuria were increased by repeated respiratory infections. Ultrasonography showed several highly echogenic shadows in the gallbladder in both cases, and gallstones were found at surgery. Operative cholangiography showed an anomalous arrangement of pancreaticobiliary ductal system in both cases. The pedigree showed five relatives (including the father) on the paternal side had liver disease, and an autosomal recessive inheritance was suggested. The association of familial intrahepatic cholestasis with a large amount of serum bile acids (which seem to be due to abnormal bile acid metabolism), cholelithiasis and anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system is proposed as a new hepatobiliary syndrome.