Cholangitis, Acute
Basics
Basics
Basics
Description
Description
Description
- Acute infection and inflammation due to partial or complete obstruction of the biliary tree, most commonly by gallstones migrating into the common bile duct (CBD); also by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), tumor, parasitic disease, and stricture
- Primary choledocholithiasis (formation of stones in the CBD) is uncommon; occurs with bile stasis (e.g., cystic fibrosis, distal biliary stricture)
- Must distinguish from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic progressive disorder of unknown etiology characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and strictures with intra- and/or extrahepatic bile ducts
- Severity ranges from mild pain and low-grade fever to life-threatening sepsis.
- When suspected, urgent intervention is needed.
- System(s) affected: GI tract, hepatobiliary, other systems via hematogenous spread
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
Parallels the prevalence of gallstones; stones migrating into the CBD are associated with up to 70% of cases. Median age of presentation is between 50 and 60 years; incidence increases with age.
- Stones more common in individuals of Northern European, Hispanic, and Native American descent
- Rare in children (except in hemolytic disorders such as sickle cell disease)
Prevalence
- CBD stones are discovered incidentally in 5–20% of patients undergoing routine evaluation for gallstones.
- Acute cholangitis occurs in 6–9% of patients hospitalized with gallstone disease.
- No gender differences have been reported.
- Patients with CBD stones have positive blood cultures in 20–30% of cases.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Obstruction of biliary flow by stones (90% of cases), neoplasms, or strictures promotes bile stasis and spread of bacteria from biliary tree into hepatic ducts.
- Increased intraluminal pressure decreases intrabiliary IgA secretion; disrupts hepatocellular tight junctions; and pushes bacteria into hepatic veins, biliary canaliculi, and perihepatic lymphatics, leading to bacteremia (25–40%). Bacteria gain access to the biliary tree via retrograde ascent from the duodenum.
- Rarely, infection enters from portal venous system, periportal lymphatics, an eroding hepatic abscess, or infected pancreatic fluid collection.
- The CBD may not be dilated if obstruction is partial, in which case an isolated alkaline phosphatase elevation is sometimes present.
- Pyogenic cholangitis in Asia is most commonly due to parasitic infection (Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, Ascaris lumbricoides, Schistosoma mansoni) and is characterized by intrahepatic stones and recurrent attacks.
Most common bacterial organisms:
Escherichia coli,
Klebsiella pneumonia, and
Enterococcus (
1)[
A]
- Others: Bacteroides fragilis, Streptococcus faecalis, Enterobacter, and Pseudomonas
- Anaerobes, including Clostridium and Bacteroides, are more frequent in polymicrobial infections and patients with prior biliary-enteric surgery.
- With biliary endoprosthesis, Pseudomonas and enterococcal species more common
- Hospitalized patients are prone to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas species, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.
- Cytomegalovirus, Cryptosporidium, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, and herpes simplex virus are common in HIV-related cholangiopathy. In HIV patients, acute cholecystitis may be acalculous due to infection, inflammation, or gallbladder wall ischemia.
Genetics
Increased risk with family history of gallstones
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
- Cholelithiasis, CBD stones
- Chronic bile duct inflammation due to sclerosing cholangitis, infection, and possibly hypothyroidism
- Periampullary malignancy
- Advanced age >70 years, usually >50 years old
- Cirrhosis
- Crohn disease
- Hepatobiliary infections
- Conditions predisposing to biliary stasis (diabetes mellitus, obesity, pregnancy, rapid weight loss, prolonged fasting)
- Hemolytic syndromes or biliary anomalies (children)
- Roux-en-Y bypass surgery
- Biliary strictures or neoplasms, including masses that compress the duct; chronic pancreatitis with inflammatory CBD stricture
- Endoscopic or surgical manipulation; biliary stent occurs in 10% postbiliary tract reconstruction.
- Immunosuppression
- Medications: octreotide, ceftriaxone, estrogen
- HIV or AIDS
Pregnancy Considerations
Gallstone risk increases during pregnancy due to biliary cholesterol supersaturation and decreased GB motility.
General Prevention
General Prevention
General Prevention
- Adequate physical activity
- Avoid foods rich in saturated fats.
- In patients with increased risk of biliary stasis, weight loss, long-term somatostatin therapy or parenteral nutrition, and use of ursodeoxycholic acid reduce lithogenicity.
- Long-term statin use reduces biliary cholesterol concentration and lowers risk of gallstone formation (not recommended for routine prevention).
- Ensure patency of biliary tree with intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) at time of cholecystectomy; if operative view is not possible and CBD stone is suspected, endoscopic cholangiogram is recommended.
- Prophylactic antibiotics before ERCP
Commonly Associated Conditions
Commonly Associated Conditions
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis
- Crohn disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Sepsis
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