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Gastroenterology Research

Case Report

Volume 14, Number 1, February 2021, pages 41-44

Ampullitis Superimposed Obstructive Jaundice in a Patient With COVID-19

Beginning late 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly disseminated around the world, leading to the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that caused over 2 million deaths globally [1]. While the respiratory manifestations are hallmark to the disease, multi-system involvement has been implicated in a significant number of cases [2, 3]. Recent reports have shown that both the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the liver are susceptible to COVID-19, leading to GI symptoms and abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) [4-9]. Herein we report an unusual case of COVID-19 presenting initially with symptoms in the duodenum, ampulla and hepatobiliary systems but without signs or symptoms of respiratory involvement until late in the disease progression.

An 83-year-old man with history of hypertension, osteoarthritis and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair 3 years ago complicated by colonic injury requiring colostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy presented with acute onset altered mental status, jaundice and right arm weakness. On arrival, the patient was febrile to 102.5 °F, tachycardic, and tachypneic but did not require supplemental oxygen given an oxygen saturation of 96% on room air. Initial labs were significant for blood white cell count (10,400/µL) with 84% of neutrophils, elevated lactic acid (3.5 mmol/L) and multiple abnormal LFTs (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 617 U/L, aspartate transaminase (AST) 376 U/L, total bilirubin 5.4 mg/dL and alkaline phosphatase 452 U/L), pointing toward severe sepsis with acute organ dysfunction. Initial chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) scan of the head identified no acute processes, ruling out potential stroke. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 by PCR (per nasopharyngeal swab) 1 day prior to admission as a resident of a local nursing home with an active outbreak. However, given the unremarkable CXR at presentation and lack of respiratory symptoms, the positive result was considered an incidental finding.

Ultrasound of the upper right abdominal quadrant revealed biliary dilatation and tumefactive sludge, leading to a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) study that confirmed significant biliary obstruction. Later, the patient underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to directly visualize the region showing duodenal major papillae ulceration with ampullary involvement (Fig. 1). A metal biliary stent was placed to alleviate the obstruction in the distal common bile duct, and brushing samples were obtained around the stricture once dilated. Additionally, multiple duodenal ulcers causing upper GI bleeds were identified, and biopsies were obtained from ulcers on the ampulla and duodenal bulb. No significant mass lesions were identified by imaging or ERCP. Post-stenting, good bile flow was restored and the patient became afebrile soon after.

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Figure 1. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showing duodenal major papillae and ampullary ulceration (a) and multiple ulcers in the duodenal bulb with bleeding (b).

Microscopically, the morphology and immunohistochemistry of the biopsies were consistent with mucosal ulceration and acute inflammation associated with subepithelial vasculitis, thrombi formation, possible viral cytopathy with smudge nuclei and myenteric plexus involvement (Fig. 2). No carcinoma or dysplasia was identified in either biopsy sample. The bile duct brushing sample contained rare clusters of atypical epithelial cells suspicious for high-grade dysplasia (Fig. 3). Cumulatively, the pathology was suggestive of two intersecting processes: first, an underlying suspected Klatskin tumor sparring the ampulla and second, a superimposed possible COVID-19 infection leading to worsening biliary stricture, ascending cholangitis, sepsis and hepatoencephalopathy.

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Figure 2. Duodenal major papillae and ampullary biopsy showing mucosal ulceration (a, b, arrows), vasculitis (c, left, arrows), thrombi (c, right arrows), smudge nuclei (c, left, and d, arrow heads) and ganglions involved by the inflammation (d, arrows) (a-d, H&E stains; a, × 100; b-d, × 400).

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Figure 3. Bile duct brushing specimen showing clusters of atypical epithelial cells with high-grade dysplasia (Papanicolaou stain, × 400).

On day 8 of admission (9 days after testing positive for COVID-19), the patient remained afebrile but developed progressive dyspnea and hypoxia complicated by hypernatremia from poor oral intake. CXR taken was still unremarkable. Dexamethasone, supplemental oxygen and fluid boluses were administered. Due to his acute kidney injury, hepatic insufficiency and suspected malignancy, the patient was not a candidate for remdesivir or convalescent plasma (CCP). The patient continued to decline despite intervention. Repeat CXR on day 13 of admission (2 weeks after testing positive for COVID-19) revealed mild hazy density within the lower lung lobes bilaterally without focal consolidation (Fig. 4). Later on day 13, the patient developed severe tachycardia, hypotension and hypoxia refractory to 100% non-rebreather therapy. Comfort care was initiated on day 14 of admission, and the patient expired shortly after.

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Figure 4. Chest X-ray showing mild hazy density within the lower lung lobes bilaterally without focal consolidation.

In recent COVID-19 case reviews and organoid studies, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to cause GI symptoms secondary to global inflammation and to directly infect GI tract and hepatic ductal tissues, which both express the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor key to viral entry [4, 10-12]. GI symptoms such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting were reported in up to a third of COVID-19 patients [4-6, 13, 14]. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are a group of immune and inflammatory diseases and patients with IBD seem to be more vulnerable to influenza and COVID-19 [7, 8]. Evidence shows that COVID-19 can exacerbate symptoms of IBD and it is important to distinguish between an IBD exacerbation and symptoms caused by COVID-19 [9]. Patients with active severe IBD and with COVID-19 can go through progressive pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multi-organ failure due to the cytokine storm syndrome associated with hyper-inflammation [9]. Liver injury, seen primarily through abnormal LFTs and bilirubin elevations, was reported in 14.8-50% of all patients [14, 15]. Of note, GI and hepatic signs and symptoms were present in over half of patients with severe disease and have been associated with higher rates of hospitalization [4, 14].

Current estimates of the prevalence of GI COVID-19 manifestations in the absence of respiratory symptoms is less than 10% of cases [5]. The lack of respiratory involvement in this reported case is particularly unusual because of the severity of the initial presentation. While the most cohesive diagnosis for this patient was a duodenal/ampullary infection superimposed on a potential underlying biliary malignancy, it is possible that the ampullitis was a coincidental finding to the COVID-19 diagnosis or was due to another underlying infection or inflammatory process. Recent literature hypothesized that fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be possible given that many patients have been shown to shed viral RNA into feces for weeks after clinical recovery [6, 11]. While currently unproven, this alternate transmission route may explain how some patients do not present with pulmonary manifestations until late into the disease course.

Additionally this case highlights the importance of identifying extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 in patients even without pulmonary involvement. Because the patient had an unremarkable CXR and denied respiratory symptoms for the first part of his admission, the positive result was considered initially incidental. Given that the possible clinical presentations and treatments of COVID-19 are ever-expanding, thorough investigation into positively testing patients is critical to both preparation for potential COVID-19-related sequelae and successful treatment.

In summary, this report documents a case of COVID-19 with an initial presentation of duodenal and ampullary acute inflammation leading to ascending cholangitis, sepsis and altered mental status/hepatoencephalopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first such case of severe extrapulmonary GI-hepatobiliary involvement occurring in the absence of respiratory symptoms until late into the disease course. Clinicians and patients alike should be vigilant for atypical COVID-19 manifestations given the current unknowns regarding the disease.

Acknowledgments

None to declare.

Financial Disclosure

None to declare.

Conflict of Interest

None to declare.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained.

Author Contributions

CC wrote the manuscript; RL made the pathologic diagnosis; JM collected the data; JL made the diagnosis, collected and analyzed the data, and finalized the manuscript.

Data Availability

Any inquiries regarding supporting data availability of this study should be directed to the corresponding author.

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