Amebic liver abscess: report of three cases

Parassitologia. 2007 Jun;49(1-2):49-53.

Abstract

Amebic abscess is a common manifestation of extraintestinal amebiasis and it is associated with relatively high morbidity and mortality. We present three cases seen in Bari, Southern Italy, one of which was autochthonous and the other two were not. Diagnosis was performed by elevated antibody titre for E. histolytica through immunofluorescence assay and positive antigen determination by ELISA in stools and in abscess aspirate. Fever often accompanied by chills, abdominal pain, weight loss and hepatomegaly were present. Laboratory findings also revealed leukocytosis with neutrophilia. Pleural effusion was observed in two patients. In all our patients multiple abscesses were observed. All the patients were treated with metronidazole and two of them also underwent the aspiration of the amoebic abscess. In all of them there was improvement of the clinical picture, as demonstrated by computerized tomography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amebicides / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Burkina Faso
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Entamoeba histolytica / immunology*
  • Entamoebiasis / epidemiology
  • Entamoebiasis / transmission
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Liver Abscess, Amebic / blood
  • Liver Abscess, Amebic / diagnosis*
  • Liver Abscess, Amebic / drug therapy
  • Liver Abscess, Amebic / surgery
  • Male
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Philippines / ethnology
  • Suction
  • Travel

Substances

  • Amebicides
  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Metronidazole