Characteristics and Treatment Outcome of Liver Abscesses: An Observational Study

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Liver Abscess

• Registration Number: NCT06852235
• Lead Sponsor: Assiut University

Brief Summary

1. To assess the frequency, clinical presentation, microbiological and radiological characteristics of liver abscesses.

2. To evaluate the management plan and treatment outcome of liver abscess.

3. To study risk factors of liver abscess.

Detailed Description

There is a paucity of information on liver abscesses' epidemiology and characteristics in the Middle East in general and Egypt in particular.

The incidence of liver abscess varies from one country to another. The annual incidence of pyogenic liver abscess has been estimated at 2.3 cases per 100,000 populations and 18-20 per 100 000 hospital admissions (Mohsen et al 2002, Kaplan et al 2004).

Liver abscess is a potentially life-threatening condition (Ahmed et al., 2016).

A review by Chan KS et al. of 16 pyogenic LA (PLA) articles showed mortality rates ranging from 0% to 15.7 % (Chan et al., 2022).

The etiology of LA can be bacterial (most often polymicrobial), parasitic (amebic essentially), mixed (pyogenic superinfection of parasitic abscess) or more rarely fungal (Nakanishi et al., 2009).

Microbes can invade the liver parenchyma by way of the bile ducts, blood stream (hematogenic, most often portal), or by contiguous spread, especially via the gallbladder bed (Yoo et al., 1993, Thomsen et al., 2007).

Advanced age, diabetes mellitus (DM) and the presence of underlying malignancy are considered major risk factors, and the latter is associated with a worse prognosis (Yoo et al., 1993, Thomsen et al., 2007).

The number of cryptogenic liver abscess cases has been on the rise, and no predisposing conditions (cryptogenic) was reported in 18% (McNeil et al. 2020).

The diagnosis of LA relies essentially on imaging. Sonography and CT scan lead to diagnosis in more than 90% of cases (Halvorsen et al., 1984).

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-26
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-26
• Study First Posted: 2025-02-28
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-28
• Study Start: 2025-03-15
• Primary Completion: 2027-01-01
• Study Completion: 2027-06-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of LA will be based on typical appearance on ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT) of abdomen with clinical features consistent with the diagnosis (fever, chills, jaundice, right upper quadrant pain/epigastric discomfort).
• US or CT-guided aspiration of pus from a hepatic lesion.
• Complete resolution of radiological abnormalities following antimicrobial therapy.

Exclusion Criteria

• Liver abscess that occurs secondary to hydatid cyst.
• Liver abscess associated with underlying malignancy.
• Patient with incomplete medical records.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1. To assess the frequency, clinical picture, microbiological and radiological characteristics of liver abscesses.	Baseline	Data will be statistically evaluated by SPSS version 22. Numerical data will be expressed as means ± SDs.; Categorical data will be expressed as frequencies (percentages).; Comparison between groups will be conducted using t-test or Chi square test as appropriate.; P value \<0.05 will be considered as significant.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
2. To evaluate the management plan and treatment outcome of liver abscess.	Baseline	Data will be statistically evaluated by SPSS version 22. Numerical data will be expressed as means ± SDs.; Categorical data will be expressed as frequencies (percentages).; Comparison between groups will be conducted using t-test or Chi square test as appropriate.; P value \<0.05 will be considered as significant.
3. To study risk factors of liver abscess.	Baseline	Data will be statistically evaluated by SPSS version 22. Numerical data will be expressed as means ± SDs.; Categorical data will be expressed as frequencies (percentages).; Comparison between groups will be conducted using t-test or Chi square test as appropriate.; P value \<0.05 will be considered as significant.