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. 2012;7(3):e33978.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033978. Epub 2012 Mar 27.

Long-term mortality of patients with septic ocular or central nervous system complications from pyogenic liver abscess: a population-based study

Yi-Tsung Lin  1 , Chia-Jen Liu, Tzeng-Ji Chen, Chang-Phone Fung
Affiliations

Long-term mortality of patients with septic ocular or central nervous system complications from pyogenic liver abscess: a population-based study

Yi-Tsung Lin et al. PLoS One. 2012.

Abstract

Background: Taiwan is endemic for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Septic ocular or central nervous system (CNS) complications derived from PLA can result in catastrophic disability. We investigated the epidemiology and long-term prognosis of PLA patients with septic ocular or CNS complications over an 8-year period.

Methodology/principal findings: We extracted 21,307 patients with newly diagnosed PLA from a nationwide health registry in Taiwan between 2000 and 2007. The frequency of and risk factors for PLA with septic ocular or CNS complications were determined. The 2-year survival of these patients was compared between those with and without septic ocular or CNS complications. Septic ocular or CNS complications accounted for 2.1% of all PLA patients. Age and the Charlson comorbidity index were significantly lower in PLA patients with ocular or CNS complications than those without. Diabetes and age <65 years were independent predictors of septic ocular or CNS complications. The 2-year mortality of patients with septic ocular or CNS complications was similar to those without complications (24.8% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.502). However, among patients <65 years old and a Charlson index ≤ 1, the 2-year mortality was significantly higher in those with than without complications (18.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.001).

Conclusions/significance: Physicians should recognize that catastrophic disability due to ocular or neurological complications from PLA could lead to a poor long-term prognosis, and should follow-up these patients more closely.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. A comparison of 2-year Kaplan–Meier survival curves of PLA patients with and without septic ocular or CNS complications (p = 0.502, by log-rank test).
Figure 2
Figure 2. A comparison of 2-year Kaplan–Meier survival curves of PLA patients aged <65 years and a Charlson comorbidity index ≤1 (i.e. between 0 and 1) with and without septic ocular or CNS complications (p = 0.001, by log-rank test).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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