title: Latex agglutination test for amoebiasis in Pakistani patients with chronic 'obscure' liver enlargements.
abstract: The latex agglutination test for amoebiasis was done in 50 Pakistani patients in whom a clinical diagnosis of chronic non-supparative amoebic hepatitis was made on the basis of liver enlargement associated with chronic recurrent abdominal disturbance. The serological test was negative in 32 (64%) and positive in 18 (36%). Examination of stool specimens showed a higher frequency of E. histolytica in serology positive patients. The liver biopsy findings were variable and included normal histology in 40 percent and non-specific changes in another 34 per cent of the patients. There was evidence of early abscess formation in one patient with a strongly positive serological reaction. Chronic liver enlargements in this region form a heterogenous group and the existence of chronic non-suppurative amoebic hepatitis as a clinico-pathological entity remains doubtful.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan