Korean J Med.  2013 Jun;84(6):836-841.

A Case of Acute Cholecystitis Combined with Eosinophilic Pericarditis Caused by Toxocariasis

• Choo JW
• Choi HJ
• Moon JH
• Chung JH
• Park JS
• Myung YS
• Seo HS

Abstract

Toxocariasis is a parasite infection of a human host caused by Toxocara canis. Most human infections occur in persons who eat contaminated food containing embryonated eggs or larvae. Toxocariasis can produce various symptoms associated with eosinophilic infiltration into various internal organs such as the liver, lungs, eyes, or central nervous system. However, a simultaneous onset of cholecystitis and pericarditis has not yet been reported in the literature. A 39-year-old female patient complained of right upper abdominal pain. Several imaging studies revealed acute cholecystitis and pericarditis with pericardial effusion. Marked eosinophilia was observed in her peripheral blood and pericardial fluid. A high titer of antibodies against T. canis was discovered during the search for the cause of the eosinophilia. All clinical features and the eosinophilia improved dramatically after treatment with albendazole. We report a case of simultaneous onset of acute cholecystitis and pericarditis associated with marked eosinophilia caused by T. canis.

Keyword

Eosinophilia; Toxocariasis; Cholecystitis, Pericarditis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Albendazole
Antibodies
Central Nervous System
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis, Acute
Eggs
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Eye
Female
Humans
Larva
Liver
Lung
Ovum
Parasites
Pericardial Effusion
Pericarditis
Toxocara canis
Toxocariasis
Albendazole
Antibodies