Thickening of the gallbladder wall in alcoholic hepatitis verified by ultrasonographic examination. Its clinical implications.

In 14 patients with alcoholic hepatitis an echographic study of the gallbladder was carried out. Nine subjects showed gallbladder wall thickening (thickness greater than 4 mm) and two a 'scanty content gallbladder'. These findings did not correlate with the serum albumin levels. The authors point out the similarity of these ultrasonographic findings with those described in patients with acute cholecystitis. Since the clinical characteristics of the two conditions may also be similar, the differentiation between them cannot be exclusively based on the gallbladder echographic appearance.