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

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Eosinophilic cholecystitis (EC) is a rare condition.
• Distinguishing EC from other forms of cholecystitis is clinically important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if peripheral eosinophilia can predict Eosinophilic cholecystitis.
• To compare EC with other cholecystitis types in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 3,539 cholecystectomy specimens from 2001-2011.
• EC diagnosed in 30 patients (E-group), compared to 60 controls (O-group).
• Groups matched for age, gender, and cholelithiasis.

Main Results:

• Post-operative eosinophil counts were higher in the E-group (144 cells/mm³) vs. O-group (93 cells/mm³).
• Pre-operative peripheral eosinophilia was significantly more common in the E-group (20% vs. 3.3%).
• Peripheral eosinophilia independently predicted EC (OR=7.250).

Conclusions:

• Pre-operative peripheral eosinophilia is an independent predictor of Eosinophilic cholecystitis.
• Further research is needed to validate this association.