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. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]