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Review
. 2024 Mar 15;16(3):455.
doi: 10.3390/v16030455.

Acalculous Cholecystitis in COVID-19 Patients: A Narrative Review

Evanthia Thomaidou  1 , Eleni Karlafti  2   3 , Matthaios Didagelos  1   4 , Kalliopi Megari  5 , Eleni Argiriadou  1 , Karolina Akinosoglou  6 , Daniel Paramythiotis  7 , Christos Savopoulos  3
Affiliations
Review

Acalculous Cholecystitis in COVID-19 Patients: A Narrative Review

Evanthia Thomaidou et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) represents cholecystitis without gallstones, occurring in approximately 5-10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis in adults. Several risk factors have been recognized, while infectious diseases can be a cause of cholecystitis in otherwise healthy people. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has spread worldwide, leading to an unprecedented pandemic. The virus enters cells through the binding of the spike protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors expressed in many human tissues, including the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and this explains the symptoms emanating from the digestive system. Acute cholecystitis has been reported in patients with COVID-19. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed analysis of the current literature on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of AAC in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID; SARS-CoV-2; acalculous cholecystitis; gallbladder.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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