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Causes of Cholecystitis

acute cholecystitisIn about 90 % of the cases the acute cholecystitis is the complication of the cholelithiasis. Other causes may include a tumor of the gallbladder or a severe illness.

Other causes may include:

  • Tumor of the gallbladder - as it can block the free flow of bile from the gallbladder;
  • Rise of pressure within the common bile duct - the hypertension within the bile ducts can occur either due to obstruction or due to morphological changes in the duct system;
  • Infection in the bile ducts - infection often accompanies cholelithiasis, since the stones create a favorable environment for various bacteria;
  • Poor diet - especially if the patient already has chronic cholecystitis;
  • Lowered immune response - people with AIDS or people who are taking drugs that affect the immune system are much more susceptible to acute cholecystitis;
  • Atherosclerosis of the arteries that feed the gallbladder and the duct system - as it can lower the regional immune response and cause cell damage due to hypoxia.

The sudden inflammation of the gallbladder happens when a gallstone obstructs the bile duct and prevents the bile from exiting the gallbladder. This causes the gallbladder to become overstretched, which causes irritation and inflammation. This often leads to infection and sometimes perforation of the gallbladder.