Charcot's cholangitis triad is the combination of
jaundice;
fever
Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body's temperature set point. There is not a single agreed-upon upper limit for normal temperature with sources using val ...
, usually with
rigors
Chills is a feeling of coldness occurring during a high fever, but sometimes is also a common symptom which occurs alone in specific people. It occurs during fever due to the release of cytokines and prostaglandins as part of the inflammatory ...
; and
right upper quadrant
The human abdomen is divided into quadrants and regions by anatomists and physicians for the purposes of study, diagnosis, and treatment. The division into four quadrants allows the localisation of pain and tenderness, scars, lumps, and other ...
abdominal pain
Abdominal pain, also known as a stomach ache, is a symptom associated with both non-serious and serious medical issues.
Common causes of pain in the abdomen include gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome. About 15% of people have a m ...
. It occurs as a result of
ascending cholangitis (an infection of the
bile duct
A bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile, and is present in most vertebrates.
Bile is required for the digestion of food and is secreted by the liver into passages that carry bile toward the hepatic duct. It ...
in the liver). When the presentation also includes
low blood pressure
Hypotension is low blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure is indicated by two numbers, the systolic blood pressure (the top number) and the di ...
and
mental status changes
An altered state of consciousness (ASC), also called altered state of mind or mind alteration, is any condition which is significantly different from a normal waking state. By 1892, the expression was in use in relation to hypnosis, though there ...
, it is known as
Reynolds' pentad
Reynolds pentad is a collection of signs and symptoms suggesting the diagnosis obstructive ascending cholangitis, a serious infection of the biliary system. It is a combination of Charcot's triad ( right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and fever) w ...
.
It is named for
Jean-Martin Charcot.
See also
*
Charcot's neurologic triad
Charcot's neurologic triad is the combination of nystagmus, intention tremor, and scanning or staccato speech. This triad is associated with multiple sclerosis, where it was first described; however, it is not considered pathognomonic for it. It ...
(scanning speech,
intention tremor
Intention tremor is a dyskinetic disorder characterized by a broad, coarse, and low frequency (below 5 Hz) tremor evident during deliberate and visually-guided movement (hence the name intention tremor). An intention tremor is usually perpendi ...
,
nystagmus
Nystagmus is a condition of involuntary (or voluntary, in some cases) eye movement. Infants can be born with it but more commonly acquire it in infancy or later in life. In many cases it may result in reduced or limited vision. Due to the invol ...
) – a triad described in association with
multiple sclerosis.
*
Reynolds' pentad
Reynolds pentad is a collection of signs and symptoms suggesting the diagnosis obstructive ascending cholangitis, a serious infection of the biliary system. It is a combination of Charcot's triad ( right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and fever) w ...
.
References
Diagnostic gastroenterology
Medical triads
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