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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β€” written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Amoebic liver abscess natural history, complications and prognosis

Introduction

Overview

Overview

If left untreated, amoebic liver abscess may disseminate to other organs leading to death.[1]The complications of amoebic liver abscess develop due to rupture of the abscess into the abdomen or chest cavity. The complications include peritonitis, pericarditis / pneumopericardium / tamponade, pleuropulmonary / pneumothorax (the right lung and pleural space are frequently effected because of their proximity to the liver), obstructive jaundice, bacterial superinfection, cutaneous fistulization of chest and abdominal wall, inferior vena cava obstruction, hemobilia / thoracobilia, internal fistulization, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, Venous and arterial thrombosis.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]Prognosis is good with treatment. Patients who are treated have high chance of complete recovery or minor complications.[14]

Natural History

Natural History

If left untreated, amoebic liver abscess may disseminate to other organs leading to death.[1]

Complications

Complications

The complications of amoebic liver abscess develop due to rupture of the abscess into the abdomen or chest cavity. The complications include:[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Prognosis

Prognosis

  • Prognosis is good with treatment. Patients who are treated have the high chance of complete recovery or minor complications.
  • If left untreated, abscess ruptures leading to death.

Poor prognostic factors include:[14]

References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kurt Γ–, Aktaş N, Γ‡alışkan C, Karatuna O, AygΓΌn H, Akyar I (2015). “[Amoebic liver abscess in a patient initially diagnosed with pneumonia: case report and discussion of relevant literature]”. Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 39 (1): 70–4. doi:10.5152/tpd.2015.3608. PMIDΒ 25917589.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Meng XY, Wu JX (1994). “Perforated amebic liver abscess: clinical analysis of 110 cases”. South Med J. 87 (10): 985–90. PMIDΒ 7939926.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Peres LC, Saggioro FP, Dias LB, Alves VA, Brasil RA, Luiz VE; et al. (2008). “Infectious diseases in paediatric pathology: experience from a developing country”. Pathology. 40 (2): 161–75. doi:10.1080/00313020701816357. PMIDΒ 18203038.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Salles JM, Moraes LA, Salles MC (2003). “Hepatic amebiasis”. Braz J Infect Dis. 7 (2): 96–110. PMIDΒ 12959680.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Archampong EQ (1972). “Peritonitis from amoebic liver abscess”. Br J Surg. 59 (3): 179–81. PMIDΒ 5014518.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sarda AK, Bal S, Sharma AK, Kapur MM (1989). “Intraperitoneal rupture of amoebic liver abscess”. Br J Surg. 76 (2): 202–3. PMIDΒ 2702459.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ganesan TK, Kandaswamy S (1975). “Amebic pericarditis”. Chest. 67 (1): 112–3. PMIDΒ 1235314.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ibarra-PΓ©rez C (1981). “Thoracic complications of amebic abscess of the liver: report of 501 cases”. Chest. 79 (6): 672–7. PMIDΒ 7226956.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Shamsuzzaman SM, Hashiguchi Y (2002). “Thoracic amebiasis”. Clin Chest Med. 23 (2): 479–92. PMIDΒ 12092041.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Adeyemo AO, Aderounmu A (1984). “Intrathoracic complications of amoebic liver abscess”. J R Soc Med. 77 (1): 17–21. PMCΒ 1439560. PMIDΒ 6699845.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lyche KD, Jensen WA (1997). “Pleuropulmonary amebiasis”. Semin Respir Infect. 12 (2): 106–12. PMIDΒ 9195675.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lyche KD, Jensen WA, Kirsch CM, Yenokida GG, Maltz GS, Knauer CM (1990). “Pleuropulmonary manifestations of hepatic amebiasis”. West J Med. 153 (3): 275–8. PMCΒ 1002529. PMIDΒ 2219891.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Takhtani D, Kalagara S, Trehan MS, Chawla Y, Suri S (1996). “Intrapericardial rupture of amebic liver abscess managed with percutaneous drainage of liver abscess alone”. Am J Gastroenterol. 91 (7): 1460–2. PMIDΒ 8678020.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sharma MP, Dasarathy S, Verma N, Saksena S, Shukla DK (1996). “Prognostic markers in amebic liver abscess: a prospective study”. Am J Gastroenterol. 91 (12): 2584–8. PMIDΒ 8946991.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yamuna Kondapally, M.B.B.S[2]