Malaria Caused by Plasmodium vivax Complicated by Acalculous Cholecystitis

Justin M. Curley Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia

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Rupal M. Mody Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia

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Robert A. Gasser Jr. Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia

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We report the first adult cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) exclusively caused by infections with Plasmodium vivax. We reviewed the previous cases of AAC occurring during malaria, compared and contrasted the variables of previously reported cases with the cases reported here, examined the pathogenic link between malaria and AAC, and considered the diagnostic pitfalls and treatment implications as they applied to clinical outcomes in patients with this serious and potentially underrecognized illness.

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Justin M. Curley, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Internal Medicine Department, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20307. E-mail: justin.m.curley@us.army.mil

Authors' addresses: Justin M. Curley, Rupal M. Mody, and Robert A. Gasser, Jr., Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, E-mails: justin.m.curley@us.army.mil, rupal.mody@amedd.army.mil, and gasserra@verizon.net.

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