Gallbladder involvement of Henoch-Schönlein purpura mimicking acute acalculous cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We report the case of a 53-year-old man with fever and severe abdominal pain following an upper respiratory tract infection.

METHODS/

RESULTS

The clinical signs, the laboratory markers, and the ultrasound findings were consistent with acute acalculous cholecystitis and he underwent cholecystectomy. Histologically the gallbladder showed vasculitis and the patient developed postoperatively a purpuric rash of the legs with transient ankle arthritis. Gastroscopy revealed prepyloric ulcers consistent with vasculitis. The patient was diagnosed as having Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Gastric ulcers as well as arthritis disappeared upon treatment with corticosteroids and proton pump inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, Henoch-Schönlein purpura can mimic acute cholecystitis and should be considered as a rare differential diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.