title: Association between amebic liver abscess and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Taiwanese subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Invasive amebiasis is an emerging parasitic disorder in Taiwan, especially in patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Thirty-three Taiwanese subjects with amebic liver abscess (ALA) were examined and a possible correlation between ALA and HIV infection was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among ALA patients, the proportion of HIV-positive individuals increased during the study period. ALA was the first major clinical presentation in 54% of HIV patients with ALA. Overall, 58% (14/24) of HIV-infected patients had a CD4+ count > 200 cells/muL and 82.1% (23/28) had no concurrent opportunistic infection or other evidence of HIV infection. There was no marked difference in clinical characteristics between HIV-positive and HIV-negative ALA patients except the level of leukocytosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the clinical characteristics described herein cannot be used to determine whether ALA patients have HIV infection, routine HIV testing is recommended in patients with ALA, even in the absence of HIV symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. hsu_men_shan@yahoo.com.tw
authors.forename: Meng-Shuian
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Szu-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Mao-Yuan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Shan-Chwen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015897:Comorbidity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole