Which condition commonly presents with dark urine and clay-colored stools?

Biliary obstruction is the condition that commonly presents with dark urine and clay-colored stools. This occurs due to a blockage in the bile ducts, which prevents bile from reaching the intestines. Bile, which contains bilirubin, normally gives stool its brown color. When there is a biliary obstruction, bilirubin cannot be excreted into the intestine, leading to pale or clay-colored stools.

As a result of this obstructive process, bilirubin accumulates in the bloodstream, causing an increase in its conjugated form. This excess bilirubin spills over into the urine, resulting in dark urine. The combination of dark urine and clay-colored stools is a classic clinical finding indicating that the obstruction is preventing bile components from reaching the intestine.

Other conditions listed may have related symptoms but do not produce the same specific combination of symptoms. For instance, while hepatic cirrhosis can also lead to changes in stool and urine color, it is more commonly associated with other symptoms like ascites and jaundice rather than the clear distinction of dark urine and clay-colored stools seen with biliary obstruction.