Korean J Gastroenterol.  2010 Aug;56(2):90-96. 10.4166/kjg.2010.56.2.90.

Clinical Features of Pyogenic Liver Abscess according to Age Group

• Park JH
• Lee TH
• Kim ST
• Jung JH
• Kim YS
• Kim SM
• Im EH
• Huh KC
• Choi YW
• Kang YW

• KMID: 1775863
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2010.56.2.90

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Pyogenic liver abscess remains a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, despite advances in diagnostic technology and new strategies for treatment. This study was conducted to compare the differences in clinical features and outcomes of pyogenic liver abscess according to age.
METHODS
In total, 166 patients were enrolled and included 63 (<65 years old, group I), 62 (65-74 years old, group II), 41 (>75 years old, group III) patients in each group. We reviewed the medical records retrospectively including etiology, underlying diseases, characteristics of the liver abscess, laboratory and microbiologic findings, treatment, and outcome of the patients.
RESULTS
Group I had higher prevalence rates of male patients and chronic alcoholics, but lower prevalence rates of biliary disease, hypertension, and malignancy. In laboratory findings, group II had higher incidence of thrombocytopenia, elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. There were no differences in symptoms and microbiologic findings in blood and pus among the three groups. Liver abscesses were more common in right liver in Group I. The lengths of stay and the treatment modalities were similar in three groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Although there were differences in sex ratio, etiology, underlying disease among the different age groups, they did not cause difference in treatment and clinical outcome of pyogenic liver abscess. Thus, we recommend active treatments in patients of all age.

Keyword

Pyogenic liver abscess; Age; Klebsiella pneumoniae

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bacteria/isolation & purification
Blood Cell Count
Blood Chemical Analysis
Female
Humans
Liver Abscess, Pyogenic/*diagnosis/microbiology/therapy
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Sex Factors
Urinalysis

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Presenting symptoms of pyogenic liver abscess. Other symptoms include flank pain, diarrhea, chest pain.

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