Abstract
Clinicopathological and immunohistological studies were performed on 32 casess of lymph follicular cholecystitis (LFC), which were found in 507 patients received cholecystectomy between 1981∼1988. Gram-negative bacterial infection, especially E. coli and/or Klebsiella was demonstrated in 84.4% of LFC cases. The ratio of gallstones made of cholesterol to bilirubin was 13: 14 in LFC cases, whereas it was 3.4: 1 in 228 control cases of non-specific chronic cholecystitis. Immunohistochemical studies revealed LFC was a B lymphocyte-dominant chronic cholecystitis with formation of lymph follicles. Among the B lymphocyte subpopulations, cells expressing IgA predominated, particulary in the surface layer of the mucosa. It seems likely that local immune defense against prolonged bacterial infections plays an important role in the pathogenesis of LFC.
