Immunosuppression as efficient therapy for Eosinophilic cholangitis: A case series and review of the literature

Eosinophilic cholangitis (EC) is a rare benign cause for biliary obstruction. Diagnosis is challenging since EC can mimic malignant diseases and sclerosing cholangitis. Thus, in many cases EC has been diagnosed retrospectively after surgery. In other cases, diagnosis has been made after histopathological analysis of biopsies from the biliary tract or after observation of sclerosing cholangitis with concomitant marked peripheral eosinophilia. Guidelines for medical treatment are not established. Due to this fact, therapeutic interventions reported in case reports ranged from symptomatic and endoscopic treatment, over immunosuppression to major surgical interventions. Aim of this case series is the analysis of symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes in EC patients.