Acalculous Cholecystitis in COVID-19 Patients: A Narrative Review
Evanthia Thomaidou,
Eleni Karlafti,
Matthaios Didagelos,
Kalliopi Megari,
Eleni Argiriadou,
Karolina Akinosoglou,
Daniel Paramythiotis,
Christos Savopoulos
Affiliations
Evanthia Thomaidou
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eleni Karlafti
Emergency Department, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Matthaios Didagelos
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Kalliopi Megari
CITY College, University of York Europe Campus, 54626 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eleni Argiriadou
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Karolina Akinosoglou
Department of Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
Daniel Paramythiotis
First Propaedeutic Department of Surgery, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
Christos Savopoulos
First Propaedeutic Internal Medicine Department, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
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.
