title: Pyogenic liver abscess: retrospective analysis of 80 cases over a 10-year period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A total of 80 patients with pyogenic liver abscess managed at a single institution over a 10-year period were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical features, laboratory, imaging, and microbiologic findings, management strategy, and final outcome were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fever and chills, leucocytosis and elevated alkaline phosphatase were the most common clinical and laboratory findings. Forty-one percent of patients were diabetic and 61% had biliary pathology. Systemic antibiotics and image-guided aspiration had a success rate of 94%. By multiple logistic regression analysis, malignancy on presentation (P = 0.011) was an independent risk factor associated with mortality. A past history of endoscopic sphincterotomy was an independent factor associated with resolution of liver abscess within 6 weeks (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pyrexia, leucocytosis, elevated alkaline phosphatase, presence of diabetes, and underlying biliary pathology are common clinical and laboratory findings in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. Malignancy was associated with a poor outcome. Previous endoscopic sphincterotomy was a good prognostic factor for early resolution.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, China. wmwongg@hku.hk
authors.forename: Wai-Man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Benjamin Chun Yu
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Chee Kin
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Kam Chuen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wai Kuen
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Tso
authors.forename: Shiu Kum
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Ching Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents