REFRACTORY AMEBIC ABSCESS OF THE LIVER TREATED WITH CHLOROQUINE

Abstract

In 1948 Conan 1 reported 6 cases of hepatic amebiasis (without abscess of the liver) successfully treated with chloroquine. In the same year Murgatroyd and Kent 2 reported the cure of a case of refractory amebic abscess of the liver treated with chloroquine. The success of this treatment, after the failure of emetine, diiodo-hydroxyquinoline (diodoquine®) and penicillin given systemically and proflavine sulfate used locally, was striking. In 1949 Conan confirmed the efficacy of chloroquine against hepatic amebiasis (without abscess) with the report of several more cases in which it was used with success.3 The purpose of this article is to report a second case of refractory amebic abscess of the liver, which has been successfully treated by chloroquine, confirming the result reported by Murgatroyd and Kent. REPORT OF CASE H. S., a white man aged 53, was admitted on Feb. 1, 1949 after transfer from another institution, where he had