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Clinical features and management of amebic liver abscess. Experience from 29 patients

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Summary

29 patients with amebic liver abscess were evaluated in a study to examine clinical picture, laboratory data, epidemiology, radiologic methods, and therapy. Since the clinical picture was unspecific a considerable amount of misdiagnoses occurred, and often originated from pulmonary symptoms. To establish diagnosis one should rely on the triad with positive amebic serology, intrahepatic scanning defects, and clinical picture with fever, right upper quadrant pain, and hepatomegaly. Nearly all patients had an exposure history of travel or immigration from endemic areas in the tropics. Medical therapy with metronidazole alone is highly effective and leads to defervescence and clinical improvement usually within 3–5 days. Invasive procedures, such as needle aspiration or surgical drainage of the abscess are rarely needed; these invasive methods neither shorten the course of the disease nor improve prognosis.

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Abbreviations

E. histolytica:

Entamoeba histolytica

ALA:

Amebic liver abscess

ESR:

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Standort Wedding, II. Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Berlin

    Th. Weinke, W. Scherer & U. Neuber

  2. Standort Charlottenburg, Abteilung für Innere Medizin mit Schwerpunkt Infektionskrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Berlin

    M. Trautmann

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  1. Th. Weinke
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  2. W. Scherer
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  3. U. Neuber
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  4. M. Trautmann
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Weinke, T., Scherer, W., Neuber, U. et al. Clinical features and management of amebic liver abscess. Experience from 29 patients. Klin Wochenschr 67, 415–420 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01725136

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01725136

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