Brain abscess following endoscopic injection sclerotherapy: report of a case

A 33-year-old male patient with hepatitis B surface antigen positive cirrhosis, received 2 courses of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for bleeding esophageal varices. A Streptococcus viridans brain abscess developed 2 weeks after the first sclerotherapy (or 1 week after the second sclerotherapy). In cirrhotic patients, an increase in pulmonary vasodilatation and pulmonary arteriovenous shunting has been well recognized. Sclerosant as well as bacteria may pass through a pulmonary arteriovenous shunt and reach the brain, directly after an infection of esophageal varices. Brain ischemia and a bacterial infection may occur at the same time, this can accelerate the development of a pyogenic brain abscess. Careful observation for the early detection and treatment of infection following endoscopic sclerotherapy is essential.