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

Abstract

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.