Cholecystitis
Type: Symptom
Definition
Acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, often presenting without gallstones.
Clinical Details
Certain species of microsporidia frequently migrate up the biliary tree from the duodenum to heavily infect the epithelial cells lining the bile ducts and gallbladder. This causes a severe, localized inflammatory condition known as AIDS cholangiopathy. It presents clinically as agonizing right upper quadrant abdominal pain and highly elevated liver enzymes.