Abstract
Liver abscess is a rare but serious complication of Crohn's disease. Patients with Crohn's disease are at risk for pyogenic liver abscesses due to immunosuppressive therapy, fistulous disease, and intraabdominal abscesses. Inflammatory bowel disease patients are also known to have a greater prevalence of amebiasis compared to the rest of the population; however, a higher incidence of amebic liver abscess has not been reported. We describe a case of a liver abscess in a patient with Crohn's disease that was initially presumed pyogenic but later determined to be amebic in origin. Epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of amebic and pyogenic liver abscesses are discussed.
Highlights
Pyogenic and amebic liver abscesses are the two most common types of hepatic abscesses
We report a case of liver abscess in a patient with Crohn’s disease eventually diagnosed as an amebic abscess by serology that responded well to initial therapy
Hepatic abscesses are defined as a suppurative collection within the liver parenchyma infected with either bacterial, parasitic, or less-commonly fungal organisms
Summary
Pyogenic and amebic liver abscesses are the two most common types of hepatic abscesses. While both types of hepatic abscesses can present treatment differs significantly. Despite improvements in therapeutic modalities, pyogenic liver abscess remains a serious condition with a high morbidity and a mortality rate of up to 60% [1]. Amebic liver abscesses have a good prognosis if diagnosed and treated early. We report a case of liver abscess in a patient with Crohn’s disease eventually diagnosed as an amebic abscess by serology that responded well to initial therapy
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