Eosinophilic Cholecystitis as a Possible Late Manifestation of the Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome

We describe a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis occurring in a 43-year-old woman with a history of the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, associated with the ingestion of l-tryptophan. The patient underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and subsequent histological examination of the gallbladder revealed an infiltrate predominantly of eosinophils, suggesting a possible relationship to the underlying condition. This may represent a late complication of the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome – such an association has not previously been reported in the literature. The gastrointestinal and hepatic complications of this syndrome are discussed. Received: 12 October 1999 / Accepted: 20 April 2000