Peripheral eosinophilia - is it a predictable factor associated with eosinophilic cholecystitis?

Abstract

Backgrounds/aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of peripheral eosinophilia as a predictable factor associated with Eosinophilic cholecystitis (EC) compared with other forms of cholecystitis in patients who underwent a cholecystectomy.

Methods: Between January 2001 and May 2011, the histopathologic features of 3,539 cholecystectomy specimens were reviewed retrospectively. EC was diagnosed in 30 specimens (0.84%). Data from 30 consecutive patients with EC (eosinophilic cholecystitis group [E-group]) were compared with a retrospective control group of 60 patients (other cholecystitis group [O-group]) during the same period. The two groups were matched for age, gender, and the presence of cholelithiasis.

Results: The median absolute eosinophil count 1 day post-operatively was 144 cells/mm(3) (range: 9-801 cells/mm(3)) in the E-group and 93 cells/mm(3) (range: 0-490 cells/mm(3)) in the O-group (p=0.036). Pre-operative peripheral eosinophilia was more common in the E-group than the O-group (20% vs. 3.3%, p=0.015). Multivariate analysis revealed that pre-operative peripheral eosinophilia was an independent significant predictable factor associated with EC (odds ratio=7.250, 1.365 <95% confidence interval<38.494, p=0.020).

Conclusions: In the present study, pre-operative peripheral eosinophilia was shown to be an independent predictable factor associated with EC. Further researches seem to be necessary to confirm this finding.

Keywords: Cholecystectomy; Eosinophilia; Eosinophilic cholecystitis; Predictable factor.

Fig. 1. Histopathology findings of eosinophilic cholecystitis. (A) Dense infiltration of eosinophils ([B] black arrow) involving the gallbladder diffusely in a transmural manner (>90%), suggesting eosinophilic cholecystitis (A: H&E stain, ×40, B: H&E stain, ×200).