A case of severe acalculous cholecystitis associated with sorafenib treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, is the first and only drug, which improves significantly the overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, many patients experience diverse side effects, some of them severe and unexpected. To date, acute acalculous cholecystitis has not been documented in association with a HCC patient treated with sorafenib. Here, we report the case of a 43-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus-related advanced HCC. She received sorafenib, and later complained of a sudden onset of severe right hypocondrial pain with rebound tenderness and muscle defense. Laboratory examination showed mild elevation of transaminases, biliary enzymes, bilirubin, inflammation markers, and a marked peripheral eosinophilia. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a swollen gallbladder with exudate associated with severe inflammation without stones or debris. Consequently, sorafenib treatment was stopped immediately, and steroid-pulse therapy was performed. Steroid therapy drastically improved all clinical manifestations along with normalization of CT findings, eosinophilia, and liver functions. In summary, we herein report a rare case of acute severe acalculous cholecystitis associated with sorafenib in the patient with advanced HCC.
Yosuke Aihara, Hitoshi Yoshiji, Masaharu Yamazaki, Yasuhide Ikenaka, Ryuichi Noguchi, Chie Morioka, Kosuke Kaji, Haruki Tastumi, Keisuke Nakanishi, Maiko Nakamura, Junichi Yamao, Masahisa Toyohara, Akira Mitoro, Masayoshi Sawai, Motoyuki Yoshida, Masao Fujimoto, Masahito Uemura, Hiroshi Fukui, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
Yosuke
Y
Aihara
Hitoshi
H
Yoshiji
Masaharu
M
Yamazaki
Yasuhide
Y
Ikenaka
Ryuichi
R
Noguchi
Chie
C
Morioka
Kosuke
K
Kaji
Haruki
H
Tastumi
Keisuke
K
Nakanishi
Maiko
M
Nakamura
Junichi
J
Yamao
Masahisa
M
Toyohara
Akira
A
Mitoro
Masayoshi
M
Sawai
Motoyuki
M
Yoshida
Masao
M
Fujimoto
Masahito
M
Uemura
Hiroshi
H
Fukui