Eosinophilic cholangitis along with obstructive jaundice and liver damage: A case report and review of the literature

Yipin Lv; Yong Pang; Hongyin Liang; Yong Zhang; Shanhong Tang

doi:10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_672_21

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Year : 2023 | Volume : 66 | Issue : 2 | Page : 423-425

Eosinophilic cholangitis along with obstructive jaundice and liver damage: A case report and review of the literature

Yipin Lv¹, Yong Pang², Hongyin Liang², Yong Zhang¹, Shanhong Tang¹
¹ Department of Digestive Diseases, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
² Department of General Surgery, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

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Date of Submission	28-Jun-2021
Date of Decision	12-Nov-2021
Date of Acceptance	01-Dec-2021
Date of Web Publication	09-May-2022

How to cite this article:
Lv Y, Pang Y, Liang H, Zhang Y, Tang S. Eosinophilic cholangitis along with obstructive jaundice and liver damage: A case report and review of the literature. Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2023;66:423-5

How to cite this URL:
Lv Y, Pang Y, Liang H, Zhang Y, Tang S. Eosinophilic cholangitis along with obstructive jaundice and liver damage: A case report and review of the literature. Indian J Pathol Microbiol [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 3];66:423-5. Available from: https://www.ijpmonline.org/text.asp?2023/66/2/423/345000

Dear Editor,

A 29-year-old female was admitted to our hospital after suffering from right epigastralgia for 9 days and obstructive jaundice with nausea and vomiting for 1-week duration. The patient's vital signs were steady at the time of admission. A physical examination indicated moderate jaundice in the skin and sclera. In addition, the clinical abdominal examination revealed a positive Murphy's sign and right epigastric pain, as well as an old surgical scar in the right lower quadrant that was around 8-cm long (healed with no drainage). She had an appendectomy 4 years ago for acute appendicitis. She did not have any additional medical history, such as hypertension and diabetes. Laboratory tests revealed a significant increase in transaminases and biliary enzymes [[Table 1], Prior to admission] and abdominal ultrasonography revealed a weak echo in the middle and upper segment of the common bile duct, as well as intrahepatic bile duct expansion, gallbladder narrowing, and cystic wall thickening. The patient was transferred from a nearby hospital to ours for additional treatment. Re-examination of blood biochemistry and routine revealed significant liver damage and a high level of eosinophilia [[Table 1], Prior to surgery]. Hepatitis A, B, C, and E indicators, as well as autoimmune hepatitis antibodies, were all negative. The structure of porta hepatis was disordered, the wall of the upper segment of the common bile duct was thickened and narrowed, and the intrahepatic bile duct was dilated, according to an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan [Figure 1]a and [Figure 1]b. The blockage was found in the upper portion of the common bile duct, and a new organism could not be ruled out. Subsequently, a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was performed to confirm the abdominal CT diagnosis. MRCP demonstrated aberrant gallbladder morphology as well as biliary dilatation, which was consistent with CT [Figure 1]c. Furthermore, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed solid space occupied by the submucosa of the common hepatic duct that blocked the lumen, suggesting that the lesion broke through the outer membrane of the bile duct, infiltrated into the triangle of the gallbladder, and blocked the cystic duct [Figure 2]a. At present, the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice was clear, but we wondered about the cause of obstructive jaundice. According to the above results of MRCP and EUS, the possibility of choledocholithiasis was excluded. We highly suspected that the biliary obstruction was caused by a neoplasm. We timely communicated with patients and their families to explain the patient's condition. According to the opinions of surgical consultation, the patient strongly demanded surgical treatment.

Table 1: Laboratory values

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Figure 1: Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) demonstrating biliary obstruction. The wall of the upper segment of the common bile duct was thickened and narrowed (a), the intrahepatic bile duct was dilated (red arrows) (b), and structural disorder in the hepatic portal area with abnormal bile duct obstruction (blue arrow, abnormal occupying; and red arrow, biliary dilatation) (c)

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Figure 2: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) revealed dilatation of the common hepatic duct (red arrow), an occupying lesion (blue arrow) and stenosis of the common bile duct (yellow arrow) (a), and histopathological examination showing high-eosinophilic infiltration of the gallbladder wall with eosinophilic abscess formation (b), diffuse infiltration of eosinophils in a high-magnification pathological section (c)

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The patient underwent surgical resection of the gallbladder and the occupied bile duct and was managed with Roux-en-Y meanwhile. During the operation, the size of the confluence of the upper-middle common bile duct and cystic duct was about 2.0 × 2.0 cm, which was tough and poorly mobile. Besides, the expansion of the left and right hepatic ducts could be seen above the occupying area. A pathological biopsy showed no evidence of malignancy. In low-power magnification, the remaining bile duct was irregular in shape without bile duct epithelial atypia. The subepithelial area displayed periductal fibrosis and a pronounced diffuse inflammatory cellular infiltrate [Figure 2]b. In high magnification, a large number of eosinophils infiltrated the gallbladder wall, resulting in the formation of a local abscess, and lymph node hyperplasia with more eosinophils infiltrating the porta hepatis. The pronounced inflammatory cellular infiltrate was comprised almost entirely of eosinophils, identified by their pathognomonic cytoplasmic granules and bilobed nuclei [Figure 2]c. Further retrospective review showed peripheral eosinophils [Table 1]. According to the pathological features and the benign clinical course, we diagnosed the patient with eosinophilic cholangitis and obstructive jaundice with liver damage. Postoperatively, epigastralgia and obstructive jaundice were gradually relieved with symptomatic treatment. One week later, the levels of serum bilirubin and transaminase were close to normal and eosinophils in the peripheral blood also decreased significantly [[Table 1], post surgery]. At 16-month follow-up, she remained asymptomatic with normal liver function tests, and eosinophils in her peripheral blood (0.22 × 10⁹/L) had returned to a normal level.

EC is a rare disorder of the biliary tract, which was first reported by Leegaard in 1980.^[1] At present, the pathophysiology of EC is still unclear. Most patients with EC showed marked peripheral blood eosinophilia, which is associated with several biological conditions, such as allergy, parasitic infection, connective tissue disorder, hematopathy, malignant tumors, and immune deficiency status. The pathogenesis of EC may theoretically involve an atopic mechanism. This mechanism is supported by the increased levels of IgE and IL-5 in EC, and IL-5 can exert antiapoptotic effects on eosinophilia.^[2] Recently, some reports have shown leukotriene and IL-16 can mediate eosinophilia recruitment.^[3] Therefore, most studies consider that the pathogenesis of EC may be related to an allergy mechanism, but its pathogenesis and pathophysiology still need to be clarified. In EC, transmural eosinophilic infiltration of the biliary tract may lead to biliary stricture and obstructive jaundice.^[4] The diagnosis of EC is still a formidable challenge as it may be confused with cholangiocarcinoma in clinical manifestation and imaging features. It is very important to distinguish between benign and malignant biliary stricture because of the complexity of differential diagnosis. Previous studies have shown that the majority of strictures are secondary to malignancy (pancreatic adenocarcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma), with up to 30% due to benign pathologies. Tumor markers are useful in distinguishing benign and malignant biliary obstruction but are usually unable to determine the exact cause of a biliary stricture.^[5] Here, we tested the tumor markers in the peripheral blood of the patient and they were all within the normal range. Prior to making the diagnosis of EC, other benign pathologies of biliary strictures should be ruled out, such as inflammatory stenosis secondary to common bile duct stones, immune-mediated inflammation (primary sclerosing cholangitis, IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, mast cell cholangitis), infection (parasitic, recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, tuberculosis), radiation therapy, and cystic fibrosis.^[1] The laboratory values of the patient showed normal autoimmune markers (myeloperoxidase antibody, anti-smooth muscle antibody, and anti-mitochondrial antibody), IgG4 levels, and no sign of infection. Although the presence of peripheral eosinophilia may be a clue to the diagnosis of EC, the sensitivity or specificity is variable. With the advent of ERCP, EUS, and MRCP, accuracy in diagnosing the cause of biliary stricture has been improved, but the definitive diagnosis needs to be confirmed by pathological analysis of the bile duct lesions. Therefore, it is often necessary to carry out a surgical operation to take pathological tissue biopsy for a clear diagnosis. However, this kind of invasive examination greatly increases the patients' safety risks. At present, no clear diagnosis standard of EC has been established. Matsumoto proposed a triad diagnosis standard, including wall thickening or stenosis of the biliary system, elevated eosinophil infiltration in the pathological tissue, and reversibility of biliary abnormalities following steroid treatment or without treatment.^[6] Currently, the treatment of EC is mainly based on case report experiences and no expert consensus. As EC is a benign disease, some scholars believe a trial of corticosteroids should be considered before invasive treatment. Recently, a case report showed an EC patient got better with biochemical analysis of her eosinophilia and liver function test by oral budesonide treatment. Although a diagnostic test for glucocorticoids can be attempted, surgical resection of the extrahepatic bile duct and Roux-en-Y may be required as histopathological evidence before EC is often impossible.^[7]

In our case report, the patient was treated with surgical resection of the gallbladder and the occupying extrahepatic bile duct along with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Although the pathogenesis of EC is still unclear, it is suggested that etiology treatment and biliary obstruction relief are the main treatment guidelines through a retrospective study of cases.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

This study was supported by grants from The General Hospital of Western Theater Command Hospital (2021-XZYG-B24).

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

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2.	Domae M, Sagara H, Sakaue M, Fukuda T, Kamikawa Y. The antiallergic drug oxatomide promotes human eosinophil apoptosis and suppresses IL-5-induced eosinophil survival. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;111:567-72.
3.	Liu T, Barrett NA, Kanaoka Y, Yoshimoto E, Garofalo D, Cirka H, et al. Type 2 cysteinyl leukotriene receptors drive IL-33-dependent type 2 immunopathology and aspirin sensitivity. J Immunol 2018;200:915-27.
4.	Dodda A, Matsukuma K, Urayama S. Eosinophilic cholangitis: A case report of diagnostically challenging eosinophilic infiltrative biliary obstruction. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2019;11:589-95.
5.	Lin MS, Huang JX, Yu H. Elevated serum level of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in benign biliary stricture diseases can reduce its value as a tumor marker. Int J Clin Exp Med 2014;7:744-50.
6.	Matsumoto N, Yokoyama K, Nakai K, Yamamoto T, Otani T, Ogawa M, et al. A case of eosinophilic cholangitis: Imaging findings of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, cholangioscopy, and intraductal ultrasonography. World J Gastroenterol 2007;13:1995-7.
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