A Case of Phlegmonous Gastritis in a Patient with Psoriatic Arthritis on Infliximab

Phlegmonous gastritis after biloma drainage: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Phlegmonous gastritis (PG) is a rare bacterial infection of the gastric submucosa and is related to septicemia, direct gastric mucosal injury, or the direct influence of infection or inflammation in neighboring organs. Here, we present a patient who had spontaneous biloma caused by choledocholithiasis and then PG resulting from bile leakage after biloma drainage.

CASE SUMMARY

A 79-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension had persistent diffuse abdominal pain for 4 d. Physical examination showed stable vital signs, icteric sclera, diffuse abdominal tenderness, and muscle guarding. Laboratory tests showed hyperbilirubinemia and bandemia. Contrast computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed a dilated common bile duct and left subphrenic abscess. Left subphrenic abscess drainage revealed bilious fluid, and infected biloma was confirmed. Repeated abdominal CT for persistent epigastralgia after drainage showed gastric wall thickening. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed an edematous, hyperemic gastric mucosa with poor distensibility. The gastric mucosal culture yielded Enterococcus faecalis. PG was diagnosed based on imaging, EGD findings, and gastric mucosal culture. The patient recovered successfully with antibiotic treatment.

CONCLUSION

PG should be considered in patients with intraabdominal infection, especially from infected organs adjacent to the stomach.

A case of phlegmonous gastritis after acute pharyngitis

We report a case of phlegmonous gastritis that followed an episode of acute pharyngitis. A 21-year-old man visited our emergency room because of intense epigastric pain. Fourteen days before the visit, he had symptoms of a sore throat and high fever. He was diagnosed with acute pharyngitis and treated with antibiotics. Although the symptoms of acute pharyngitis were relieved, epigastric pain began 5 days before the emergency visit. Computed tomography showed diffuse gastric wall thickening, and emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed diffusely spreading hyperemic mucosa with multiple erosions. He was admitted with a diagnosis of acute phlegmonous gastritis and was treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic treatment was effective and resulted in resolution of his clinical symptoms and normalized C-reactive protein concentrations. On hospital day 29, he was discharged. However, he was re-admitted because of recurrence of phlegmonous gastritis 5 days after discharge and 15 days after finishing the antibiotics. Cultures of gastric biopsies and juice were both positive for Streptococcus constellatus/milleri. Antibiotic treatment was effective, and he recovered without recurrence. A possible association between upper respiratory infections and subsequent phlegmonous gastritis has been reported, and this case supports causality. However, further studies are needed to evaluate causality and pathogenesis.