Massive pleural empyema secondary to amoebic liver abscess in a child / Empiema pleural masivo secundario a absceso hepático amebiano en un niño

Abstract Background: Pleural empyema secondary to a ruptured amoebic liver abscess is a rare complication in the pediatric population. Case report: We report the case of a 13-year-old male with right flank abdominal pain, productive cough with foul-smelling sputum, fever, and respiratory distress. Physical examination revealed breathlessness, decreased vesicular murmur in the right hemithorax, abdominal distension, hepatomegaly, and lower limb edema. Laboratory tests revealed mild anemia, leukocytosis without eosinophilia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, hypoalbuminemia, and positive immunoglobulin G antibodies against Entamoeba histolytica in pleural fluid. He required a chest tube and treatment with metronidazole. After 2 months of follow-up, the abscesses disappeared, and the empyema decreased. Conclusions: Massive pleural empyema secondary to a ruptured liver abscess is a rare complication. The epidemiological link associated with the symptoms and serological tests can help in the diagnosis.

Resumen Introducción: El empiema pleural secundario a ruptura de absceso amebiano hepático es una complicación poco frecuente en la población pediátrica. Caso clínico: Se reporta el caso de un paciente de sexo masculino de 13 años que presentó dolor abdominal en flanco derecho, tos productiva con esputo de mal olor, fiebre y dificultad respiratoria. Al examen físico se encontró amplexación y murmullo vesicular disminuido en hemitórax derecho, distensión abdominal, hepatomegalia y edema de miembros inferiores. Los resultados del laboratorio evidenciaron anemia leve, leucocitosis sin eosinofilia, elevación de fosfatasa alcalina, hipoalbuminemia y anticuerpos IgG contra Entamoeba histolytica positivo en líquido pleural. Requirió tubo de drenaje torácico y tratamiento con metronidazol. A los dos meses de seguimiento los abscesos desaparecieron y el empiema disminuyó. Conclusiones: El empiema pleural masivo secundario a ruptura de absceso hepático es una complicación poco frecuente. El nexo epidemiológico asociado con la sintomatología y pruebas serológicas pueden ser de ayuda en el diagnóstico.

Amebic liver abscess in rat: morphological evidence of innate immune modulation by the sympathetic nervous system / Absceso hepático amebiano en rata: evidencia morfológica de la modulación de la respuesta inmune innata por el sistema nervioso simpático

All organs of the immune system are innervated and almost all neurotransmitter receptors are present on immune cells. We studied the effects of sympathetic innervation in the development of amebic liver abscess (ALA) in rats. Our results showed that lack of sympathetic innervation promote a decrease in size of ALA. We found scarce amoebas, increased the number of neutrophils and a few collagen fibers surrounding the abscess, meanwhile in control group, we observed abscesses areas with typical necrosis including trophozoites and neutrophils. Macrophages were differentially distributed surrounding abscess area in control and vehicle groups, but equally located in and outside of the abscesses in sympathectomized rat. No significant differences were observed on NK cells in analysed groups. In cytokines quantification studies, we observed down-expression of IFN-g and TNF-a, moreover, we found overexpression of IL-10 in sympathectomized and ALA group. In conclusion, our results suggest that elimination of sympathetic nerve fibers in a model rat of amebic liver abscess induces reduction of the innate immune response and presence of amebas through the liver at seven days post-inoculation.

Todos los órganos del sistema inmune están inervados y casi todos los receptores para neurotransmisores están presentes en las células de la respuesta inmune. Nosotros estudiamos el efecto de la inervación simpática en el desarrollo del Absceso Hepático Amebiano (AHA) en ratas. Nuestros resultados muestran que la inervación simpática promueve una disminución en el tamaño del AHA. Nosotros encontramos áreas fibróticas bien definidas con algunas amibas, mayor número de neutrófilos y pocas fibras de colágena rodeando el área de daño, mientras que en el grupo control, nosotros observamos áreas con necrosis, trofozoítos y pocos neutrófilos en el área fibrótica. Los macrófagos se observaron distribuidos en el área fibrótica en los animales simpatectomizados, mientras que en los controles encontramos a los macrófagos distribuidos en la periferia del absceso. No se encontró diferencia significativa en la distribución y cantidad de células NK. En el estudio de citocinas nosotros observamos una disminución de IFN-g y TNF-a y un incremento de IL-10 en animales simpatectomizados. En conclusión, nuestros resultados sugieren que la eliminación de las fibras del sistema nervioso simpático en el modelo de AHA en rata, reduce la respuesta inmune innata y persisten amebas en el tejido dañados a los 7 días post-inoculación.

Ameboma del recto con absceso hepático asociado: reporte de un caso / Case Report of Rectal Ameboma with Associated Liver Abscess

La infección por Entamoeba histolytica sigue siendo un problema mayor de salud pública en los países en desarrollo como Colombia. Aunque en la gran mayoría de casos se presenta como una disentería o un absceso hepático amebiano, existen casos donde la evolución genera una verdadera masa inflamatoria en el colon llamada ameboma. Estos amebomas son fácilmente confundidos con una lesión neoplásica y, de no tener un gran nivel de sospecha clínica o endoscópica, terminan en una resección de colon con un diagnóstico posoperatorio dado por la presencia de trofozoítos sin malignidad. Sin embargo, cuando el diagnóstico se hace de manera preoperatoria, podría haber resolución del cuadro sin necesidad de cirugía. Exponemos el caso de una rara presentación de ameboma en el recto asociado con un absceso hepático perforado, en el cual se hizo un diagnóstico preoperatorio, pero dada la ruptura de la lesión en el hígado, requirió de una intervención quirúrgica.

Entamoeba histolytica infections continue to be a major public health problem in developing countries such as Colombia. Although it most often presents as dysentery or amebic liver abscess, there are cases in which a true inflammatory mass develops in the colon. This is called an ameboma. These amebomas are easily confused with neoplastic lesions so that in the absence of a high level of clinical and endoscopic suspicion, a colon resection may be performed with the postoperative diagnosis given by the presence of trophozoites without malignancy. However, when the diagnosis is made preoperatively symptoms can be without surgery. We report a rare presentation of ameboma in the rectum associated with a perforated liver abscess. This was diagnosed prior to surgey, but given the liver injury, required surgery.

Absceso hepático amebiano: Presentación de caso / Amebic liver abscess: Case report

El absceso hepático amebiano (AHA) es la manifestación extraintestinal más frecuente de la amebiasis. El AHA es resultado de la invasión de Entamoeba histolytica al hígado. Es una infección que está asociada a las malas condiciones de saneamiento ambiental y a los deficientes hábitos higiénicos. Es una patología que aún sigue presentado una alta morbilidad. En este artículo se informa un caso clínico y seguimiento de un paciente de 23 años con AHA, quien presenta la sintomatología típica a quien se suministra tratamiento etiológico adecuado. Adicionalmente, se realiza una revisión sobre el tema abordando los aspectos epidemiológicos más relevantes.

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of amebiasis. The AlA is a result of the invasion of Entamoeba histolytica in the liver. It is an infection that is associated with poor environmental sanitation and poor hygiene. It is a disease that is still presented a high morbidity. This article presents a case report and track a patient aged 23 with ALA, who has the typical symptoms who provided adequate etiological treatment is reported. Additionally, a review of the subject is done by addressing the most relevant epidemiological aspects.

The MAK16 Gene of Entamoeba histolytica and Its Identification in Isolates from Patients

To identify sequences of Entamoeba histolytica associated with the development of amebic liver abscess (ALA) in hamsters, subtractive hybridization of cDNA from E. histolytica HM-1:IMSS under 2 growth conditions was performed: 1) cultured in axenic medium and 2) isolated from experimental ALA in hamsters. For this procedure, 6 sequences were obtained. Of these sequences, the mak16 gene was selected for amplification in 29 cultures of E. histolytica isolated from the feces of 10 patients with intestinal symptoms and 19 asymptomatic patients. Only 5 of the 10 isolates obtained from symptomatic patients developed ALA and amplified the mak16 gene, whereas the 19 isolates from asymptomatic patients did not amplify the mak16 gene nor did they develop ALA. Based on the results of Fisher's exact test (P<0.001), an association was inferred between the presence of the mak16 gene of E. histolytica and the ability to develop ALA in hamsters and with the patient's symptoms (P=0.02). The amplification of the mak16 gene suggests that it is an important gene in E. histolytica because it was present in the isolates from hamsters that developed liver damage.

Estudio y tratamiento de los abscesos hepáticos / Study and treatment of liver abscesses

Liver abscess is an unusual but potentially lethal disease. We should be especially cautious in patients diagnosed with biliary pathology or immunosuppression, with right upper quadrant pain, fever or jaundice. The study should include images, cultures and serology for Entamoeba histolytica in certain scenarios. The treatment of pyogenic liver abscess is based on prolonged antibiotic therapy and usually in the drainage of the collection, which can be percutaneous, open or endoscopic. In case of amoebic liver abscesses, drug treatment -in two phases- achieve the parasitic removal at tissue and luminal levels, keeping the drain choice for larger abscesses.

El absceso hepático es una patología poco prevalente pero potencialmente letal. Se debe tener una alta sospecha en pacientes con patología de la vía biliar o inmunosupresión, que presenten dolor en hipocondrio derecho, fiebre o ictericia. El estudio debe incluir imágenes, cultivos y eventualmente serología para Entamoeba histolytica en determinados escenarios. El tratamiento de los abscesos hepáticos piógenos se basa en antibioterapia prolongada y habitualmente en el drenaje de la colección, el cuál puede ser percutáneo, abierto o endoscópico. En el caso de los abscesos hepáticos amebianos el tratamiento farmacológico, en dos fases, logra la eliminación parasitaria a nivel tisular y luminal, reservando el drenaje para los de gran tamaño.

Amebic Liver Abscess Complicated With Inferior Vena Cava Obstruction

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) has been diagnosed in travelers to endemic areas or in patients with immunosuppression secondary to human immunodeficiency virus infection since the late 1990s. Further, it is a rare disease in Korea. ALA should be considered in patients present with fever and right upper quadrant pain along with a risk of exposure to amebiasis. We report an 82-year-old man with symptoms of fever, gross hematuria and severe renal impairment as having amebic liver abscess complicated with the obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Amebic liver abscess was successfully treated with antibiotics alone. Also, hematuria disappeared and renal dysfunction improved after treatment.

Amebic Liver abscess Complicated by Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis: A Case Report

Amebic liver abscess is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of infection with Entamoeba histolytica. It is a common disease, especially in endemic areas, but it is a rare cause of inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction, with only a few cases appearing in the literature. The authors describe a case of amebic liver abscess in a patient who developed a rare vascular complication of inferior vena cava thrombosis. The case responded to conservative treatment and radiological intervention.

Supra-Cath : A Life Saving Catheter.

Amebic liver abscesses are more likely to be solitary and more commonly located in the right hepatic lobe. Though uncommon, erosion usually from left lobe into the pericardium is the most dangerous complication of amebic liver abscess. We encountered an interesting case of an elderly male, who presented with features suggestive of cardiac temponade. We could demonstrate the left lobe abscess, pericardial effusion and also pericardial fistula on ultrasonography. Patient was successfully managed by percutaneous drainage of left lobe hepatic abscess by Supra- Cath, which also drained pericardial effusion with immediate symptomatic relief.

Absceso hepático amebiano en el embarazo: reporte de un caso / Amebic liver abscess in pregnancy: a case report

La asociación de absceso hepático amebiano y embarazo es poco frecuente y se asocia a un aumento de la morbilidad y mortalidad materna. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 33 años, cursando un embarazo de 35 semanas, que ingresó a nuestro servicio con el diagnóstico de absceso hepático, cuya etiología fue E. histolytica.

The appearance of amebic liver abscess in pregnancy is uncommon and is associated to increased maternal morbidity and mortality. We report the case of 33 years old woman, with a 35 weeks pregnancy that was admitted in our Hospital with the diagnosis of liver abscess, whose etiology was E. histolytica.

A Case of Amebic Liver Abscess with Pleural Effusion in an AIDS Patient / 감염과화학요법

Recent studies indicate that there is an increased risk of amebic liver abscess among those infected with HIV, which is associated with cell-mediated immunosuppression. Although Entamoeba histolytica infection is common among HIV infected patients, only a few cases of amebic liver abscess with bilateral pleural effusion have been reported. We present a case of a 44-year-old man who presented with fever and right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Amebic liver abscess with bilateral pleural effusion was confirmed by serologic test, clinical symptoms, and radiological findings. HIV infection was incidentally diagnosed during treatment. The possibility of the presence of amebic liver abscess should be considered in HIV infected patients with space-occupying lesions in the liver, and HIV screening should strongly be recommended in patients with amebic liver abscess.

Comparative study of catheter drainage and needle aspiration in management of large liver abscesses.

Objective To compare the effectiveness of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) and percutaneous needle aspiration (PNA) in the management of large (>10 cm diameter) liver abscesses. Methods Seventy-two patients with liver abscess (amebic 48, pyogenic 24) were randomly allocated to PCD or PNA (36 each), which were done within 24 hours of admission. Both groups received parenteral antibiotics for at least 10 days. PNA was repeated every third day if the cavity size had not declined to 50% of the original for up to three times. Persistence of cavity or of clinical symptoms was considered failure of treatment. Duration to attain clinical relief, duration of hospital stay, complications, treatment failure, and deaths were recorded. Results PNA was successful in 31 of 36 (86%) patients (one aspiration in 10, two in 18, and three in 3 patients), whereas PCD was successful in 35 (97%) patients (p=ns). Duration to attain clinical relief (10.2 [2.0] vs. 8.1 [2.7] days; p=0.02) and parenteral antibiotics needed (15.5 [1.1] vs. 10.9 [2.7] days; p=0.04) were significantly lower in PCD group. Duration of hospital stay was similar in the two groups. One patient with PNA had a subcapsular hematoma and one with PCD had continuous bile leakage which stopped spontaneously. One patient in PCD group died. Conclusion PCD is a better treatment option than PNA for the management of large liver abscesses of size >10 cm, in terms of duration to attain clinical relief and duration for which parenteral antibiotics are needed.

Amebic Liver Abscess Misdiagnosed as Hepatic Carcinoma:A Case Analysis / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate a rare case of hepatic abscess caused by amebiasis and to discuss the reason of misdiagnosis.METHODS A fifty years old male patient with amebic liver abscess,misdiagnosed as hepatic(carcinoma),was studied.RESULTS The patient with a huge hepatic mass lesion was misdiagnosed as hepatic(carcinoma) and received interventional therapy four times within 13 months.Amebae were found in the(aspiration) of the lesion and in patient′s sputum.The temperature of the patient returned to normal range after(antibiotics) and anti-amebic therapy.CONCLUSIONS Amebic abscess is a clinically rare encountered pathology now.When to make the diagnosis,hepatic carcinoma should be carefully considered and differentiated.

Treatment of Liver Abscess / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the changing pattern of liver abscess treatment, we did a retrospective analysis of 80 patients with liver abscess, treated surgically and medically at the Department of Surgery and Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital from January 1985 to December, 1995. RESULTS: Among 80cases of liver abscess, 59 cases(76%) were pyogenic abscess and 21 cases(24%) were amebic abscess. The liver abscess was more commonly located in the right lobe. In the 59cases of pyogenic liver abscess, etiologic factors were biliary stones with cholangitis(19 cases), cholecystitis(6 cases), hepatobiliary cancer(4 cases), diabetes mellitus(3 cases). All 21 cases of amebic abscess were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and metronidazole administration; 20 cases were treated successfully and 1 case died of sepsis. Among the 59 cases of pyogenic liver abscess, 38 cases were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage; 30 cases were successful, but 8 cases were not. Operations were performed in 21 cases because of underlying intraabdominal conditions requiring surgical correction( 19cases) and panperitonitis due to rupture of liver abscess(2cases). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of amebic abscss, percutaneous catheter drainage and metanidazole adminstration should be considered first. Percutaneous catheter drainage and antibiotic treatment tend to increase more than surgical treatment in the pyogenic liver abscess therapy. The liver abscess is no more surgical indication, unless it is associated with underlying intraabdominal conditions requiring surgical correction and panperitonitis due to rupture of liver abscess.

CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF 36 CASES WITH AMEBIC LIVER ABSCESS / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective] To investigate the clinical features of amebic liver abscess, the causes of misdignosis and the effect of medical and surgical therapy on patient′s prognosis. [Methods] The clinical features of 36 patients with amebic liver abscess admitted from 1982 to 1997 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. [Results] The major clinical manifestations were: abdominal pain (86 1%), fever (86 1%),hepatomegaly with tenderness (83 3%) and right intercostal tenderness(58 3%). Leukocytosis was observed in 61 1%, and increased of ESR in 88 5% (23/28). Serologies against Entamoeba histolytica were noted in 92 6%. Ultrasonography showed single lesions in 75% and right\|lobe involvement in 75%. All patients were treated with metronidazole and 27 patients received treatment with needle aspiration or draining at the same time. After treatment, 10 patients were cured, 25 patients were improved significantly and effective rate was 97 2%. One patient died of hepatic failure. [Conclusion] Medical therapy alone was excellent for small abscesses, while percutaneous needle aspiration or draining was a successful approach in patients with large abscesses.