Amebiasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. Amebiasis most commonly results in asymptomatic colonization of the gastrointestinal tract, but some patients may develop intestinal invasive disease with ulcerative and inflammatory lesions of the colon.<sup>4 Ahmed M., McAdam K.P.W.J., Sturm A.W. , e al. Systemic manifestations of invasive amebiasis Clin Infect Dis 1992 ;  15 : 974-982  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 42 Kimura K., Stoopen M., Reeder M.M. , e al. Amebiasis: Modern diagnostic imaging with pathological and clinical correlation Semin Roentgenol 1997 ;  32 : 250-275  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of E. histolytica infection. Amebic liver abscess is marked by a significant male preponderance and is a disease seen most commonly in patients who reside in or have emigrated from an endemic area or have a recent travel history to an endemic area. Patients typically present with acute or chronic abdominal pain and associated constitutional symptoms, but rarely have concurrent dysentery or bloody stools.<sup>29 Greenstein A.J., Barth J., Dicker A. , e al. Amebic liver abscess: A study of 11 cases compared with a series of 38 patients with pyogenic abscess Am J Gastroenterol 1985 ;  80 : 472-478

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 41 Katzenstein D., Rickerson V., Braude A. New concepts of amebic liver abscess derived from hepatic imaging, serodiagnosis, and hepatic enzymes in 67 consecutive cases in San Diego Medicine 1982 ;  61 : 237-246

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 58 Petri W.A., Singh U. Diagnosis and management of amebiasis Clin Infect Dis 1999 ;  29 : 1117-1125  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Stool examination and stool antigen detection tests are usually unhelpful because most patients with ALA do not have detectable parasites in their stool.<sup>58 Petri W.A., Singh U. Diagnosis and management of amebiasis Clin Infect Dis 1999 ;  29 : 1117-1125  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Serologic testing with enzyme immunoassays (EIA) specific for E. histolytica circulating antibodies may aid in the diagnosis of ALA.<sup>32 Haque R., Ali I.M., Petri W.A. Prevalence and immune response to Entamoeba histolytica infection in preschool children in Bangladesh Am J Trop Med Hyg 1999 ;  60 : 1031-1034

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> In most cases, medical management alone is sufficient to treat uncomplicated cases. Metronidazole remains the drug of choice for treatment of ALA followed by a luminal agent to eradicate the asymptomatic carrier state.<sup>24 Freeman C.D., Klutman N.E., Lamp K.C. Metronidazole: A therapeutic review and update Drugs 1997 ;  54 : 679-708  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 36 Irusen M.F., Jackson T.F.H.G., Simjee A.E. Asymptomatic intestinal colonization by pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica in amebic liver abscess: Prevalence, response to therapy, and pathogenic potential J Infect Dis 1992 ;  14 : 889-893

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup>