Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2017 Jun;34(1):96-100. 10.12701/yujm.2017.34.1.96.

Amebic liver abscesses resulting in diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection

• Kim SW
• Kwon HC
• Nam SW
• Choi JK
• Chung JW
• Jang DW
• Park SY

• KMID: 2400337
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2017.34.1.96

Abstract

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of amebiasis. Amebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, used to be a prevalent protozoan disease in Korea, however, with an improving sanitary system, it has been among very uncommon etiology of liver abscess. A recent report suggested that ALA is an emerging parasitic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients even in areas where the disease is not endemic and recommended HIV screening in patients in areas where ALA is not endemic, particularly those without history of travel to a disease-endemic area. We report on two patients who were admitted for treatment of ALA and then diagnosed as HIV infection. We also reviewed the etiology and characteristics of ALA in our hospital during the last 5 years.

Keyword

Liver abscess; Amebic; HIV

MeSH Terms

Amebiasis
Diagnosis*
Entamoeba histolytica
HIV Infections
HIV*
Humans*
Korea
Liver Abscess
Liver Abscess, Amebic*
Mass Screening