Acalculous cholecystitis is a common extrahepatic manifestation of hepatitis E and suggests a more serious condition

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to understand the incidence and clinical significance of acalculous cholecystitis in acute hepatitis E. Patients and methods: A single center enrolled 114 patients with acute hepatitis E. All these patients had imaging of the gallbladder, and patients with gallstones and cholecystectomy were excluded. Results: Acalculous cholecystitis was found in 66 patients (57.89%) with acute hepatitis E. The incidence of males was 63.95%, which was significantly higher than that of females (39.29%) (P=0.022). The mean hospital stays and the incidence of spontaneous peritonitis in patients with cholecystitis were significantly higher than those in patients without cholecystitis 20.12 ± 9.43 days and 9.09%, respectively, and significantly higher than those in patients without cholecystitis 12.98 ± 7.26 days and 0% (P<0.001 and P=0.032, respectively). ALB, TB, DB, CHE and PTA in patients with cholecystitis were significantly inferior to those without cholecystitis (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P= 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Acalculous cholecystitis is very common in patients with acute hepatitis E, and it may serve as a predictor of increased peritonitis, synthetic decompensation, and longer hospital stay with hepatitis E.