title: Clinical characteristics and progression of liver abscess caused by toxocara.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical characteristics and progression of liver abscess caused by toxocara.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with serum IgG antibody to Toxocara canis and liver abscess diagnosed using abdominal computed tomography between February 2010 and February 2015. Among 84 patients exhibiting serum IgG antibody to Toxocara canis, 34 patients were diagnosed with liver asbscess and treated with albendazole. A follow-up period of 1 year was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean patient age was 53 (34-79) years, with 26 (76.5%) patients being male. Twenty-one (61.7%) patients were moderate or heavy drinkers, 23 (67.6%) patients had a history of eating raw meat or liver and 6 (17.6%) patients owned pet dogs or cats. Main patient symptoms consisted of right upper quadrant pain, fever, and fatigue; 18 (52.9%) patients, however, presented with no symptoms. Lung involvement was detected in 444 (11.7%) patients. The eosinophil count increased in 29 (85.3%) patients at initial diagnosis, and decreased in most patients after albendazole treatment. The initial serum IgE level increased in 25 (73.5%) patients, but exhibited various response levels after albendazole treatment. Liver abscess formation improved in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The liver abscess was improved with albendazole treatment.
authors.affiliation: Kyung Ho Ha, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Medical Center, Daegu 41845, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Kyung Ho Ha, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Medical Center, Daegu 41845, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Kyung Ho Ha, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Medical Center, Daegu 41845, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Kyung Ho Ha, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Medical Center, Daegu 41845, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hyeong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Eosinophilia; Liver abscess; Toxocariasis