title: Treatment of amoebic liver abscess with tinidazole and metronidazole.
abstract: 20 patients with amoebic liver abscess, confirmed by aspiration of typical amoebic 'pus', were treated in random order with either tinidazole or metronidazole in a dose of 2g once daily for 2 days. Clinical, radiological, and biochemical follow-up was done for 1 month. One patient, given metronidazole, absconded and 19 completed the trial. Complete recovery occurred in all 10 patients given tinidazole but in only 5 of the 9 given metronidazole (p = 0.05). Patients on tinidazole required repeat aspirations less frequently than those on metronidazole. Mild gastrointestinal side-effects  occurred in 1 patient on metronidazole but in none on tinidazole. From the present study, tinidazole appears to be a more effective, better tolerated drug with a more rapid therapeutic effect than metronidazole.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014011:Tinidazole; D008795:Metronidazole