Cholangitis

Symptoms:

• recurrent jaundice
• abdominal pain
  • in the right upper quadrant or middle of the upper abdomen
  • may be recurrent
  • sharp or cramping or dull
  • may radiate to the back or below the right shoulder blade
  • made worse by fatty or greasy foods
  • occurs within minutes following meals

• chills
• fever
• stools, clay colored (may occur)

Signs and tests:

Tests that show obstruction or infection of the bile duct:

• ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) examines the biliary (liver secretion) system and the pancreatic duct
• percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
• abdominal ultrasound
• abdominal X-ray
• bile culture

Blood tests that may be affected include:

• liver function tests
• bilirubin levels, abnormal
• WBC, increased