Early detection of complications in amebic liver abscess

A retrospective analysis of 140 cases with amebic liver abscess (ALA) seen at the AUNL University Hospital was done to see if patients with complications can be identified earlier in order to decrease morbidity and mortality. Sixteen patients (11.4%) presented complications and six patients died (4.2%). Patients with complications presented jaundice, large or multiple abscesses, acute abdomen, liver failure and sepsis more often than patients without complications. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, prothrombin time, total proteins, albumin, LDH, and BUN were more altered in patients who presented complications. The titer of antibodies against E. histolytica was higher in this group of patients. The six patients who died had been operated on. The causes of death were septic shock in two, sepsis in one, peritonitis in one, liver failure in one and colon perforation in one patient. Pleural effusion, jaundice and acute abdomen were seen in three patients, respectively (50%), two cases had multiple abscesses (33.3%), one patient had a ruptured abscess (16.7%). Patients who died exhibited more alterations in six laboratory examinations at admission: partial prothrombin time, total bilirubin, albumin, BUN, LDH, and leukocytes. Clinical data together with the severe alterations in laboratory examinations at admission for patients with ALA should alert the clinician to suspect complications earlier in order to decrease morbidity and mortality.