Effects of clofibrate in primary biliary cirrhosis hypercholesterolemia and gallstones.

A patient with primary biliary cirrhosis is reported in whom the administration of clofibrate in a dose of 1 g per day for 2 months resulted in a marked increase in hypercholesterolemia, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed multiple intrahepatic gallstones. The stones disappeared 3 months after stopping clofibrate and starting chenodeoxycholic acid in a dose of 125 mg daily. These observations are discussed in relation to the known effects of clofibrate on bile composition.