Continuing Changing Patterns of Disease in Pyogenic Liver Abscess: A Study of 38 Patients

Changes in the etiology, clinical features, methods of diagnosis, and treatment of pyogenic liver abscess have occurred slowly but continuously over the past century. The earlier changes are well documented in the literature, and continuing variations in the classic patterns of disease are now evident. These include 1) a recent increase in incidence reflecting more accurate diagnostic techniques; 2) changes in bacteriology with a high incidence of Klehsiella infection; 3) a reduction in mortality, reflecting earlier diagnosis and more refined therapeutic methods; and 4) changes in the population at risk namely a large population of terminal cancer patients. Thirty-eight patients treated at the Mount Sinai Hospital over the past 16 years, 1967–1982, have been divided into two groups, each of 8 years duration, reflecting an earlier era before routine use of scanning procedures, and a later period when technetium, gallium, sonographic, and more recently CT imaging procedures were regularly done. During the latter period there was a significant increase in both the total number of liver abscesses diagnosed and in the number estimated as a proportion of all hospital admissions. Mortality has continued to fall to more acceptable levels with a 25% reduction overall. In the early era, extrahepatic intra-abdominal infection caused all four deaths. In the past 8 years obstructing or metastatic cancer has caused four of the five deaths. Bacteremia occurred in six of the nine deaths, five of these being of biliary origin. The decrease in mortality may reflect earlier diagnosis, an increase in the number of solitary abscesses, and better therapy.     

Hypocholesterolemia in Patients with an Amebic Liver Abscess

Background/Aims

Many parasites induce changes in the lipid profiles of the host. Cholesterol increases the virulence of Entamoeba histolytica in animal models and in vitro culture. This study aimed to determine, in patients with an amebic liver abscess, the correlation between cholesterol and other features, such as the size and number of abscesses, standard hematological and serum chemistry profiles, liver tests, and duration of hospital stay.

Methods

A total of 108 patients with an amebic liver abscess and 140 clinically healthy volunteers were investigated. Cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in the sera. The data from medical observations and laboratory tests were obtained from the clinical records.

Results

A total of 93% of patients with an amebic liver abscess showed hypocholesterolemia not related to any of the studied parameters. Liver function tests correlated with the size of the abscess. The most severe cases of amebic liver disease or death were found in patients whose cholesterol levels continued to decrease despite receiving antiamebic treatment and hospital care.

Conclusions

Our results show that the hypocholesterolemia observed in patients with an amebic liver abscess is not related to any of the clinical and laboratory features analyzed. This is the first study relating hypocholesterolemia to severity of hepatic amebiasis.     

Amebic Liver Abscess with Hepatoduodenal Fistula

Common complications of amebic liver abscesses include rupture into the thorax, pericardium, and peritoneum. Rupture into the gastrointestinal tract is extremely rare. We report a case of an amebic liver abscess rupturing into the duodenum, forming a wide fistulous tract. To our knowledge, this is the first case with radiological confirmation.     

Amebic Liver Abscess: A 15-Year Experience

Amebic liver abscess is increasingly common in the United States, particularly in the West and Southwest, due to increased immigration from Southeast Asia, Mexico, and Central America. The presentation, course, and treatment of 50 patients treated for amebic liver abscess at a county-community hospital in San Jose, California, between 1974 and 1988 is reviewed. The typical patient is an immigrant, usually a Hispanic male, 20-40 yr old, who presents with fever, right upper quadrant pain, leukocytosis, abnormal serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, and a defect on hepatic imaging study. Available serologic testing (i.e., indirect hemagglutinin antibody) is sensitive and confirms the diagnosis. Most patients respond rapidly and completely to oral metronidazole. The data, compared with other studies, indicate no major change in presentation or management, except for decreasing need to aspirate the abscess for diagnosis.     

Analysis of the Bacterial Diversity in Liver Abscess: Differences between Pyogenic and Amebic Abscesses

Several recent studies have demonstrated that virulence in Entamoeba histolytica is triggered in the presence of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria species using in vitro and in vivo experimental animal models. In this study, we examined samples aspirated from abscess material obtained from patients who were clinically diagnosed with amebic liver abscess (ALA) or pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). To determine the diversity of bacterial species in the abscesses, we performed partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In addition, the E. histolytica and Entamoeba dispar species were genotyped using tRNA-linked short tandem repeats as specific molecular markers. The association between clinical data and bacterial and parasite genotypes were examined through a correspondence analysis. The results showed the presence of numerous bacterial groups. These taxonomic groups constitute common members of the gut microbiota, although all of the detected bacterial species have a close phylogenetic relationship with bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, some patients clinically diagnosed with PLA and ALA were coinfected with E. dispar or E. histolytica, which suggests that the virulence of these parasites increased in the presence of bacteria. However, no specific bacterial groups were associated with this effect. Together, our results suggest a nonspecific mechanism of virulence modulation by bacteria in Entamoeba.     

超声引导经皮针吸治疗肝脓肿

报告超声引导经皮针吸治疗化脓性肝脓肿的经验，评估其安全性、有效性及其在肝脓肿治疗中的作用。回顾性分析21例患者，男女比例为2：1，平均年龄56．4岁，其中11例患Ⅱ型糖尿病。单一脓腔15例，多发脓腔6例，总共治疗脓肿30个，均由超声引导16GA套管针抽吸完成。21例患者经1—3次抽吸均成功治愈，治愈率100％，无并发症发生。抽吸后1—3天临床症状消失。研究证实，超声引导套管针抽吸配以全身抗感染治疗化脓性肝脓肿是安全、快捷、非常有效的，特别是对高龄且有严重并发症者，更是首选最佳疗法。     

Rupture of Pyogenic Liver Abscess

Objective: Our objective was to study the clinical manifestations, course, treatment, and results obtained in 23 patients with ruptured pyogcnic liver abscess and compare these findings with those of nonruptured cases. Methods: Four hundred twenty-four patients with clinical diagnoses of pyogenic liver abscess were enrolled in the study. Among these, 23 patients had ruptured pyogenic liver abscess. The clinical manifestations, incidence of septic shock, laboratory findings, concurrent diabetes mellitus, etiology of abscess, and results of the treatment were recorded. Qualitative data were analyzed by χ² test, and quantitative data were analyzed by Student's t test. Results: Except for abdominal pain and septic shock, other symptoms, such as fever, chills, and jaundice, were similar in ruptured and nonruptured groups. Laboratory findings indicated that the group with ruptured liver abscess had higher levels of bilirubin, blood glucose, and aspartate aminotransferase than the non-ruptured group. Of the patients with ruptured abscess, 14 (60.9%) had diabetes mellitus and 15 (65.2%) were cryptogenic. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the bacteria most often isolated in both blood cultures and liver aspirates. Surgical intervention—draining the abscess and cleaning the abdominal cavity—was the only means of saving the patients'lives. The overall mortality rate was higher in this group (43.5%) than in the nonruptured group (15.5%). Conclusions: Ruptured pyogenic liver abscess should be suspected if septic shock and diffuse abdominal pain are found in a patient with pyogenic liver abscess, concurrent with high levels of bilirubin. aspartate aminotransferase, and blood glucose. Surgery is the only treatment for this condition.     

Increased Risk of Pyogenic Liver Abscess Among Patients With Colonic Diverticular Diseases: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Whether patients with diverticular diseases exhibit a higher risk of developing pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) remains inconclusive.From the inpatient claims in Taiwan''s National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 54,147 patients diagnosed with diverticulosis in the 1998 to 2010 period and 216,588 controls without the disorder. The 2 cohorts were matched by age, sex, and admission year, and were followed up until the end of 2010 to estimate the risk of PLA.Overall, the incidence of PLA was 2.44-fold higher in the diverticular-disease group than in the controls (11.5 vs 4.65 per 10,000 person-year). The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of PLA was 2.11 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81–2.44) for the diverticular-disease group, according to a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. The age-specific data showed that the aHR for the diverticular-disease group, compared with the controls, was the highest inpatients younger than 50 years old (aHR, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.77–5.85). Further analysis showed that the diverticular-disease group exhibited an elevated risk of PLA regardless of whether patients had diverticulitis.The patients with diverticular diseases exhibited a higher risk of PLA.     

CLINICAL VIGNETTE Simultaneous Amebic Liver Abscess and Hepatitis A

A child with amebic colitis, liver abscess and hepatitis A is reported. Speculation as to why these two infectious agents have rarely been associated is presented. Diagnosis of hepatitis was not suspected in this case until physicians caring for the patient developed clinical hepatitis. The importance of suspecting hepatitis A in all patients with unexplained liver enzyme elevations is stressed.     

Clinical Manifestations and Risk Factors of Amebic Liver Abscess in Southeast Taiwan Compared with Other Regions of Taiwan

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) had previously been endemic in Taiwan, particularly in the southern region, although its occurrence in the southeastern area was unknown. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study for southeastern Taiwan. We identified 14 patients who were diagnosed with ALA between July of 1995 and July of 2008. These patients were predominantly male and older in age. Most patients lived in rural areas (85.7%). Alcoholism (78.6%) and diabetes (35.7%) were risk factors for ALA. No human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections were detected. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (100%) and abdominal pain (100%). Short mean durations of symptoms, high bilirubin levels, and low albumin levels were also noted. Most patients (92.86%) had a single lesion, particularly in the right liver lobe (71.4%). Six patients also had secondary Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial infections. Clinicians should be aware of the different risk factors in different regions when diagnosing amebic liver abscess in Taiwan.     

CT-guided Percutaneous Drainage of an Amebic Liver Abscess

Computed tomogriiphy (CT) has been successfully applied to the diagnosis of abnormalities of the solid abdominal organs. In a patient with liver abscess, CT was used to direct percutaneous drainage of a loeulated portion of the abscess. The use of CT for liiopsy and treatment of intra-abdominal diseases should become more common as sean time decreases.     

Gardnerella vaginalis: An Unusual Case of Pyogenic Liver Abscess

We present a case of pyogenic liver abscess caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, a previously unreported suppurative complication of infection with this organism. The development of the pylephlebitis originating from endometritis and the possible synergistic interaction of an anaerobic and aerobic organism is reviewed. G. vaginalis has been infrequently isolated in the laboratory; perhaps with refined culturing techniques and recognition of the pathogenic potential of this organism, further cases of suppurative complications will be described.     

Pyogenic Liver Abscess: New Concepts of an Old Disease

Early recognition of pyogenic liver abscess requires a high index of suspicion. The abrupt onset of hectic fevers and jaundice is rarely seen today; instead, an insidious progression of malaise, abdominal pain, and night sweats is more common. Biliary tract disease is the most frequent underlying disorder. An elevated alkaline phosphatase is a useful clue to the condition, but diagnosis depends on imaging of an abscess cavity followed by aspiration. Treatment involves antibiotics together with drainage, which can often be performed successfully by a nonsurgical percutaneous approach. However, prognosis continues to be poor unless the diagnosis is made promptly.