What it means
The classic picture of acute cholangitis, an infection of the bile ducts, usually when a gallstone blocks the common bile duct. When low blood pressure and confusion are added, the five signs are called Reynolds pentadREN-uldz PEN-tadFive findings together: fever, pain in the upper right abdomen, jaundice, low blood pressure and confusion.Full entry . It is named after Jean-Martin Charcot, the French neurologist, whose name is also on a different triad in multiple sclerosis.
For the nurse
Report this combination at once: cholangitis can progress quickly to sepsis. Monitor vital signs and mental status closely.
At a glance
| Also written | Charcot's triad |
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Related terms
sepsis
A severe whole-body response to an infection that damages the body's own organs.
jaundice
Yellow color of the skin, the whites of the eyes and other tissues from too much bilirubin in the blood.
Courvoisier sign
A swollen gallbladder that can be felt through the abdomen but is not tender, in a person with jaundice.
Reynolds pentad
Five findings together: fever, pain in the upper right abdomen, jaundice, low blood pressure and confusion.