Acute Cholecystitis Associated with Epstein-Barr virus in Inflammatory Process

Kimiyoshi Shimanuki, Katuyoshi Higuchi, Takayuki Aimoto, Makoto Hiroi and Toshiaki Takeuchi

Department of Surgery, General Aizu Central Hospital

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was detected with the polymerase chain reaction in the mucosal tissue of all resected gallbladders in patients with acute cholecystitis (n=17), which included two cases of acalculous acute cholecystitis. In 12 out of these 17 patients, EBV-DNA was detected in both the mucosal tissue and bile from the gallbladder. EBV-DNA was not detected in any gallbladder which was resected for gallstones without acute inflammation, and in normal gallbladders. Serum anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA)-IgM antibody was not detected in any of the investigated cases (n=38). Serum anti VCA-IgG antibody was detected in 37 cases except one case of chronic cholecystitis. These 37 cases had latent EBV infection. Latent EBV infection may be one of the etiologic factors for the development of acute cholecystitis.

Key words
acute cholecystitis, Epstein-Barr Virus

Reprint requests
Kimiyoshi Shimanuki General Aizu Central Hospital 1-1 Turugamachi, Aizuwakamatu-shi, 965-0011 JAPAN

Accepted
November 30, 1999

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