Introduction
The presence of colorless and transparent fluid in the biliary tract of patients with
bile duct obstruction has been reported as early as the beginning of the 20th century
by surgeons [1]
[2] and more recently by endoscopists [3]
[4]
[5]. The term “white bile” has been coined to describe this entity. Although a misnomer,
this term is conventionally used to describe a translucent bilirubin-free fluid to
be differentiated from the white-colored purulent bile [6]
[7]. White bile is observed in patients with biliary obstruction of either benign or
malignant origin. Biochemical analysis showed that white bile was nearly devoid of
bilirubin and biliary acids [8]
[9]
[10].
The pathogenic mechanisms of white bile formation are still unclear. The initial hypothesis
that white bile is observed only when the gallbladder is excluded [1]
[11] has not been confirmed by subsequent clinical observations [3]
[10]. Whether white bile reflects impaired hepatocellular function and is associated
with poorer prognosis is controversial [10]
[12]. Until recently, most cases were anecdotal observations or small series. In the
most recent and best documented study [3], white bile was associated with worse survival in patients with inoperable malignant
biliary obstruction. However, only 18 patients with white bile, 15 of them with gallbladder
carcinomas, were included in this study.
Given this, the main objective of the present study was to revisit the question of
the prognostic significance of white bile in a larger series of patients with biliary
obstruction due either to biliary or pancreatic cancer and undergoing endoscopic biliary
drainage.
Patients and methods
Patients
This study was conducted on a series of consecutive patients with malignant obstructive
jaundice undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
(ERCP) in the Hepato-Gastroenterology Unit of Reims University Hospital. Patients
were initially referred for jaundice or cholangitis. They had a complete clinical,
biological and imaging evaluation including liver tests, ultrasound, abdominal computed
tomography scan and/or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. The diagnosis
of extrahepatic cholestasis was made and ERCP was performed to obtain a precise diagnosis
of the nature of the biliary obstruction and to decompress the biliary tract. The
examination was conducted with a TJF duodenoscope (Olympus Optical, Tokyo, Japan)
under general anesthesia. Bile duct was cannulated using a sphincterotome (Autotome,
Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts, United States) mounted on a guide wire (Life
Partners Europe, Bagnolet, France). After insertion of the guidewire across the stenosis,
the cannula was positioned above the biliary obstruction and about 5 to 10 mL of fluid
was collected for cytology by gentle suction with a syringe, before any injection
of contrast agent. All patients with previous contrast agent injection, even mild,
were excluded. Then, depending on the endoscopist's decision, brush cytology (Cook
Medical, Bloomington, Indiana United States) and biopsy (Endojaw FB-211K, Olympus
Optical) were also performed. Finally, biliary drainage was obtained by insertion
of a 10 F or 11.5 F Teflon stent (Cook Medical) or a covered or uncovered metallic
prosthesis (Boston Scientific). In some patients, echoendoscopy (Olympus Optical Co.)
was coupled to ERCP and when appropriate, puncture of a solid mass was performed for
cytological and/or histological examination. After biliary decompression, patients
were followed clinically and serum bilirubin was measured at different intervals according
to clinician decision. The following data were retrospectively collected from the
medical files: age, sex, serum bilirubin, results of cytological and pathological
examination, type of cancer, level of obstruction, presence of metastasis, history
of cholecystectomy, and modalities of surgical and medical treatment. Patient records
were anonymized and de-identified prior to analysis. The database was constituted
in accordance with the reference methodology MR004 of the Commission Nationale de
l’Informatique et des Libertés (n° 2206749, 13/09/2018).
Measurement of bile duct bilirubin
Bile duct fluid collected during ERCP was sent to the laboratory in the following
hour to 2 hours. It was centrifuged at 1500 revolutions/min for 5 minutes and the
precipitate was collected, smeared on slides, fixed in methanol and stained with the
Papanicolaou method for cytological evaluation. The remaining supernatant was retrieved,
frozen, and stored in the dark at –80 °C for further analysis. After thawing, total
bilirubin in the bile duct fluid was measured by a diazo colorimetric method using
the COBAS 8000 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics France). Previous studies on serum have
reported that freezing at –80 °C did not affect total bilirubin measurement [13]. In addition, as bilirubin is sensitive to phototransformation, samples were sent
to the laboratory and stored protected from light. White bile was defined by bile
duct bilirubin level < 20 µmol/L and colored bile was defined as bile duct bilirubin
> 20 µmol/L.
Follow-up and endpoints
Survival time was defined as the time between ERCP and death. The primary endpoint
was overall survival (OS). Patients alive at the end of the follow-up were censored.
Patients lost during follow-up were censored at the date of the last contact. Secondary
endpoints were to analyze: 1) the relationship between the presence of white bile
and the level of biliary obstruction below or above the cystic convergence in non-cholecystectomized
patients; and 2) the relationship between serum bilirubin and bile duct bilirubin
levels.
Statistical analysis
Quantitative variables were reported as mean ± standard deviation and qualitative
data as number and percentage. OS was calculated from the date of ERCP to the date
of death or censoring. The survival curves were established using the Kaplan-Meier
method in population of patients with surgery and in population of patients without
surgery. Variables associated with OS in the population of patients with surgery and
in the population of patients without surgery were identified by univariate analyses
using log rank tests and by multivariate analyses using a Cox proportional hazard
model. Factors significant at the 0.10 level in univariate analysis were included
in a stepwise regression multivariate analysis with entry and removal limits set at
0.10. The correlation between serum and bile duct bilirubin levels was estimated using
the Pearsonʼs correlation coefficient.
P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical analyses were performed
using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Inc, Cary, North Carolina, United States).
Results
Patient characteristics
A total of 73 patients were included. Thirty-two of them (43.8 %) had pancreatic cancer
and 41 (56.2 %) bile duct cancer, including one with gallbladder cancer. The characteristics
of the whole population and the comparison between patients with pancreatic cancer
and those with bile duct cancer are shown in the Supplementary Table 1.
All patients had jaundice at the time of ERCP, two of them with concomitant cholangitis
(one patient with pancreatic cancer and colored bile and one with biliary cancer and
white bile). The mean serum total bilirubin level was 283 ± 145 µmol/L. Thirty-nine
patients (53.4 %) had white bile i. e., bile duct bilirubin < 20 µmol/L. The mean
bile duct bilirubin level in this group was 4.2 ± 5.9 µmol/L compared to 991 ± 1040 µmol/L
in the group of patients with colored bile (P < 0.0001). The characteristics of these
two groups of patients are shown in [Table 1]. Age and sex ratio were not significantly different between the two groups. Serum
total bilirubin level was significantly higher in patients with white bile (345 ± 127 µmol/L)
compared to patients with colored bile (210 ± 134 µmol/L, P < 0.0001). There was no
significant difference in the type of prosthesis between patients with white bile
and those with colored bile (P = 0.58). In five cases, initial endoscopic biliary
drainage incompletely resolved jaundice, Percutaneous drainage was performed in three
patients (2 patients with colored bile, 1 patient with white bile), a double surgical
derivation in one (white bile patient), and a second procedure using metallic prosthesis
to replace the biliary plastic prosthesis initially inserted in one (white bile patient).
Patients with white bile more often had metastasis compared to patients with colored
bile (61.5 % vs 38.2 %, P = 0.047). In the great majority of cases in both groups,
evolution of cancer was the cause of death. In one patient with local recurrence of
biliary cancer and peritoneal carcinosis, death was due to stroke (colored bile group).
In another patient with biliary cancer, death was due to myocardial infarction (colored
bile group). Two other patients with biliary cancer were lost of follow-up with no
information on the precise cause of death (one patient in the colored bile group and
one patient in the white bile group).
Table 1
Characteristics of patients with white bile (n = 39) and colored bile (n = 34).
|
Variable[1]
|
White bile (n = 39)
|
Colored bile (n = 34)
|
P value
|
|
Age (years), mean ± SD
|
68.6 ± 10.8
|
68.6 ± 12.1
|
0.97
|
|
Sex ratio, M/F, n
|
22/17
|
19/15
|
0.96
|
|
History of cholecystectomy
|
3 (7.7)
|
7 (20.6)
|
0.17
|
|
Serum total bilirubin, µmol/L (md = 1)
|
345 ± 127
|
210 ± 134
|
< 0.0001
|
|
Bile duct total bilirubin, µmol/L
|
4.2 ± 5.9
|
991 ± 1040
|
< 0.0001
|
|
Level of obstruction in non-cholecystectomized patients (n = 63):
|
0.16
|
|
|
24/36 (66.7)
|
24/27 (88.9)
|
|
|
5/36 (13.9)
|
1/27 (3.7)
|
|
|
7/36 (19.4)
|
2/27 (7.4)
|
|
Metastasis
|
24 (61.5)
|
13 (38.2)
|
0.047
|
|
Type of prosthesis
|
0.58
|
|
|
15
|
11
|
|
|
24
|
23
|
|
Surgical treatment
|
7 (18.0)
|
12 (35.3)
|
0.09
|
|
Chemotherapy
|
24 (61.5)
|
26 (76.5)
|
0.17
|
1 Data are expressed using number (percentage) unless otherwise indicated.
Survival analysis
Cumulative survival was significantly shorter in patients with pancreatic cancer compared
to patients with bile duct cancer (P = 0.02, log rank test). Median survival was 9.6
months (95 % CI: 5.6–15) in the whole population and 15.2 months (95 % CI: 5.5–31.3)
and 7.7 months (95 % CI: 4.1–10.1) in the groups of patients with bile duct cancer
and pancreatic cancer, respectively ([Fig. 1]).
Fig. 1 Kaplan-Meier survival curves. a For the whole population (n = 73). b For patients with biliary (n = 41) and pancreatic cancer (n = 32) (P = 0.02, log rank test).
Survival curves in the population of patients with intended curative surgery (n = 19)
and those not eligible for surgery (n = 54) are presented in [Fig. 2]. Median survival was 41.5 months (95 % CI: 18.7–94.8) in the population with surgery
and 5.6 months (95 % CI: 3.3–8.9) in the population without surgery.
Fig. 2 Kaplan-Meier survival curves. a In patients eligible for surgery (n = 19, median survival 41.5 months; 95 % CI: 18.7–94.8).
b In inoperable patients (n = 54, median survival 5.6 months; 95 % CI: 3.3–8.9).
In the population with surgery, no factor was associated with OS ([Table 2]). Median survival was 22.8 months (95 % CI: 10.8–94.8) in the “white bile” group
(n = 7) and 26.5 months (95 % CI: 12.7–61.1) in the “colored bile” group (n = 12)
(P = 0.96).
Table 2
Univariate analysis of factors associated with survival in the population of patients
with malignant biliary obstruction eligible for surgery (n = 19).
|
Variables
|
n
|
Survival time
(mo)[1]
|
Univariate
analysis
P value
|
|
Age
|
0.61
|
|
Sex
|
0.08
|
|
|
13
|
21.8 [10.8–94.8]
|
|
|
6
|
47.3 [18.7–61.1]
|
|
Type of cancer
|
0.71
|
|
|
16
|
26.5 [10.8–94.8]
|
|
|
3
|
21.8 [17.9–60.4]
|
|
Hilar obstruction
|
0.42
|
|
|
3
|
59.3 [41.5–61.1]
|
|
|
16
|
22.3 [10.8–94.8]
|
|
Serum total bilirubin
|
0.81
|
|
White bile
|
0.96
|
|
|
7
|
22.8 [10.8–94.8]
|
|
|
12
|
26.5 [12.7–61.1]
|
1 Data are presented as median [range].
In the population without surgery, as shown in [Fig. 3], cumulative survival was significantly poorer in patients with white bile (n = 32)
compared with patients with colored bile (n = 22) (P = 0.003, log rank test). Median
survival was 2.9 months (95 % CI: 0.2–25.9) in the “white bile” group and 9.1 months
(95 % CI: 1.1–55.2) in the “colored bile” group. In univariate analysis based on the
log rank test ([Table 3]), other factors associated with survival were metastatic extension of cancer (P = 0.0002)
and serum total bilirubin (P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis ([Table 3]), all these factors remained significant independent factors associated with OS:
white bile (HR 2.3, 95 % CI: 1.1–4.7, P = 0.02), metastatic extension (HR 2.8, 95 %
CI: 1.4–5., P = 0.003). and serum total bilirubin (HR 1.003, 95 % CI: 1.001–1.006,
P = 0.01).
Fig. 3 Kaplan-Meier survival curves in patients not eligible for surgery with white bile
(n = 32) and with colored bile (n = 22) (P = 0.003, log rank test).
Table 3
Univariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with survival in the population
of patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction without surgery (n = 54).
|
Variables
|
n
|
Survival time
(mo)[1]
|
Univariate
analysis
P value
|
Multivariate analysis[2]
|
|
HR (95 % CI)
|
P value
|
|
Age
|
0.69
|
|
|
Sex
|
0.11
|
|
|
|
28
|
6.7 [0.2–55.2]
|
|
|
26
|
5.0 [0.6–34.6]
|
|
Metastasis
|
0.002
|
|
0.003
|
|
|
37
|
3.3 [0.2–34.6]
|
2.8 [1.4–5.7]
|
|
|
17
|
11.6 [1.2–55.2]
|
1
|
|
Type of cancer
|
0.98
|
|
|
|
25
|
5.0 [0.2–34.7]
|
|
|
29
|
6.1 [0.6–55.2]
|
|
Hilar obstruction
|
0.66
|
|
|
|
7
|
5.1 [0.4–34.7]
|
|
|
47
|
5.4 [0.2–55.2]
|
|
Serum total bilirubin
|
< 0.0001
|
1.003 [1.001–1.006]
|
0.01
|
|
White bile
|
0.003
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
32
|
2.9 [0.2–25.9]
|
2.3 [1.1–4.7]
|
|
|
22
|
9.1 [1.1–55.2]
|
1
|
1 Data are presented as median [range].
2 Variables included in multivariate analysis were white bile, metastasis, and serum
total bilirubin
Impact of the level of bile duct obstruction on white bile formation
White bile was observed both in cholecystectomized and non-cholecystectomized patients
(3/10 and 36/63 respectively). The relationship between the level of biliary obstruction
and white bile formation was analyzed in the subgroup of non-cholecystectomized patients
(n = 63). Fifty percent of patients (24/48) with distal obstruction below the cystic
convergence (i. e., with gallbladder connected to occluded biliary tract), presented
with white bile at the time of ERCP versus 12/15 (80.0 %) patients with biliary obstruction
above the cystic convergence (P = 0.04).
Correlation between serum and bile duct bilirubin levels
Concentration of serum bilirubin was significantly higher in white bile patients than
in patients with colored bile (345 ± 127 µmol/L versus 210 ± 134 µmol/L, P < 0.0001)
and there was a significant inverse correlation between serum and bile duct bilirubin
levels (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = −0.43; P = 0.0001) ([Fig. 4]).
Fig. 4 Correlation between serum total bilirubin and bile duct total bilirubin.
Discussion
The prognostic significance of white bile as well as the pathogenic mechanisms involved
in its formation are a matter of debate. Our study, the largest to date, shows that
white bile in patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction is an independent
factor associated with poorer OS. In addition, our analysis confirms that a functioning
gallbladder does not prevent the formation of white bile in bile ducts. The inverse
correlation between serum and bile duct bilirubin concentrations indicates that white
bile in bile ducts appears progressively according to the degree of cholestasis induced
by complete and prolonged obstruction.
Although initial observations of white bile date back a century [1]
[2], data about its clinical significance are scarce and controversial [3]
[10]
[13]. Most reports are anecdotal or concern small numbers of patients. The largest series
was reported by Ahuja et al [3] in 2002, who compared 18 white bile patients with 17 patients with colored bile.
Among patients with white bile, 15 had gallbladder cancer and three had pancreatic
cancer. White bile was defined visually as translucent bile duct fluid. The mean concentration
of bile duct bilirubin in these patients was 8.2 ± 0.07 µmol/L. Although the number
of patients was small, reported survival was significantly worse in white bile patients
[3]. In another study published in Korean in 2008, Jung et al [14] analyzed a series of 16 patients with white bile and 44 patients with colored bile.
Data from the English abstract indicate that all patients had malignant biliary obstruction.
White bile was defined as bile duct fluid with bilirubin < 25 µmol/L. Survival analysis
conducted in a subgroup of 35 inoperable patients did not show any significant difference
between patients with and without white bile.
Our study was conducted on the largest population of white bile patients so far. In
contrast with Ahuja et al's study [3], in which most patients had gallbladder cancer (83 %), our series included only
one patient with gallbladder cancer and an approximately equal distribution of patients
with bile duct cancer and pancreatic cancer. In the small subgroup of 19 patients
eligible for surgery, OS was not significantly different between patients with white
bile and those with colored bile. In contrast, in the group of 54 patients with inoperable
malignant biliary obstruction, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence
of white bile in the bile ducts was an independent factor associated with poorer OS
(HR 2.3, 95 % CI: 1.1–4.7, P = 0.02) as it may reflect more severe and prolonged cholestasis
due to locally advanced cancer. Other factors associated with poorer survival were
the presence of mestatasis at diagnosis, which reflects advanced stage disease (HR
2.8, 95 % CI: 1.4–5.7, P = 0.003) and higher serum total bilirubin (HR 1.003, , 95 %
CI: 1.001–1.006, P = 0.01).
The mechanisms of white bile formation have long been controversial. As reviewed by
Elmslie et al [10], old studies pointed to the role of the gallbladder, claiming that gallbladder distal
to the obstruction (outside the obstructed tract) or not functioning was a prerequisite
for formation of white bile due to the lack of absorptive functions by the gallbladder
[10]. Old studies in animals supported this hypothesis. In several animal models, Rous
and Mc Master [11] reported that white bile appeared after prolonged common bile duct obstruction associated
with obstruction of the neck of the gallbladder. The stasis bile was initially pigmented
and then became progressively clear and finally colorless. In contrast, when obstructed
ducts were still connected with a functioning gallbladder, stasis bile remained colored.
They concluded that white bile was formed in obstructed bile ducts only in case of
excluded or non-functioning gallbladder. Although clinical studies initially supported
this hypothesis [1], later studies showed that white bile may appear in obstructed bile ducts with or
without a functioning gallbladder [3]
[10] and this was confirmed in our series. White bile was observed in cholecystectomized
patients and in patients with gallbladder in situ, whatever the level of obstruction,
above or below the cystic convergence, indicating that a functioning gallbladder does
not prevent the formation of white bile in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.
The inverse correlation between serum bilirubin and bile duct bilirubin suggests that
the severity of cholestasis, i. e., the degree of obstruction, plays an important
role in white bile formation. This should be brought in line with the role of the
pressure within obstructed bile ducts. Experimental studies in animal models have
reported that bile flow in obstructed bile ducts is maintained up to a certain level
of pressure variable according to animal species. Above this level, bile flow decreases
and rapidly stops, resulting in a reverse flow and regurgitation into the blood and
lymphatics. At that point, the colored bile is replaced by the colorless fluid secreted
by cholangiocytes, which is devoid of bilirubin and biliary acids [15].
The main limitation of this study is inherent in its retrospective nature. The risk
of bias is reduced by multivariate analysis but it cannot be completely neutralized.
The lack of standardized monitoring of serum bilirubin levels after biliary decompression
did not allow us to study the kinetics of bilirubin decrement, which may be impaired
or slowed down in patients with white bile [3].
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the presence of white bile within the
bile ducts of patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction is an independent
factor associated with OS. The presence of white bile in these patients reflects severe
cholestasis due to a prolonged and tight biliary obstruction. The lack of a gallbladder
is not a prerequisite for the formation of white bile, which may be observed whatever
the level of biliary obstruction.
