title: Needle aspiration of amoebic liver abscess.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the value of needle aspiration in uncomplicated amoebic liver abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised case-control study with a minimum follow up of one year, comparing patients treated with drugs alone with those treated with additional needle aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Referral based gastroenterology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  39 Consecutive patients with amoebic liver abscess in the right lobe, of whom 37 completed the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metronidazole 2.4 g/day was given to all patients for 10 days. Needle aspiration of the abscess was performed in 19 patients on the day of admission to hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abdominal pain, fever, anorexia, and hepatomegaly were measured. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum aspartate, and alanine aminotransferase activities, and alkaline phosphatase activity were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical improvement was similar in both groups of patients. Improvement in haematological and biochemical variables and rates of healing of cavities were also similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy with potent tissue amoebicidal drugs such as metronidazole is optimally effective in treating amoebic liver abscess, and in uncomplicated cases routine aspiration is not required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Tandon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole