Gallstone Hepatitis Caused by Transient Common Bile Duct Obstruction in a Middle-Aged Woman

Abstract

The interpretation of hepatocholangial laboratory test results is challenging. Possible liver biochemical tests include the evaluation of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, 5'-nucleotidase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, and albumin levels, as well as prothrombin time and international normalized ratio. When liver enzyme levels are elevated, R-values are generally used for diagnosis. A 62-year-old woman presented to our hospital with the chief complaint of abdominal pain and was consequently diagnosed with gallstone hepatitis based on her blood test results. Generally, gallstone hepatitis manifests as elevated liver enzyme levels showing a hepatocellular pattern, while common bile duct obstructions show a cholestatic pattern. Since gallstone hepatitis is indistinguishable from viral and ischemic hepatitis in the early stages of onset, it is vital to monitor changes in symptoms, biochemical tests, and imaging results over time to diagnose this disease.