Korean J Med.  2010 Oct;79(4):412-416.

Acalculous cholecystitis in a patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome

• Park JH
• Kang DH
• Lee JH
• Kim MD
• Choi CW
• Kim HW

Abstract

Churg-Strauss syndrome is an uncommon disorder characterized by asthma, hypereosinophilia, and systemic vasculitis. Gastrointestinal involvement is commonly encountered in Churg-Strauss syndrome; however, acute cholecystitis is rare, and few cases have been documented in the literature. A 22-year-old female with a history of asthma was admitted with a complaint of steady pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant. Laboratory test results showed leukocytosis with hypereosinophilia. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed acute cholecystitis. Her symptoms did not improve with conservative treatment, so she underwent percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage. Subsequently, peripheral neuropathy, erythematous papules on the skin, and dyspnea developed. A chest computed tomography scan showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. A pathological examination of the skin lesion indicated necrotizing vasculitis with eosinophilic infiltrates. She was diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome. She was treated with corticosteroids, and her condition improved dramatically. After the drainage catheter was removed, complications including a bile leak occurred. Consequently, a cholecystectomy was performed.

Keyword

Churg-Strauss syndrome; Cholecystitis

MeSH Terms

Acalculous Cholecystitis
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Asthma
Bile
Catheters
Cholecystectomy
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis, Acute
Churg-Strauss Syndrome
Drainage
Dyspnea
Eosinophils
Female
Gallbladder
Humans
Leukocytosis
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Skin
Systemic Vasculitis
Thorax
Vasculitis
Young Adult
Adrenal Cortex Hormones