Background: Amoebic liver abscesses (ALA) in the presence of Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) constitutes a high-risk group of patients who are prone to complications and may need more aggressive treatment. This study was aimed at evaluating disease course and outcomes in patients of ALA with ALD, in comparison to those without ALD.

Material & Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 60 consecutive patients of ALA without ALD (Group-I) and 60 consecutive patients of ALA with ALD (Group II). 

Result: The patients ALA with ALD were older (47.2 ±13.3 years) than those without ALD (34.1±14 years). Mean size of the abscess cavity was significantly larger in patients with ALD (391.2± 208.7 cc in Group I and 594.3 ± 297.9 cc in Group II). In Group I, conservative management was most common (43.3%); while in Group II pigtail catheter insertion was the most frequently used modality of treatment (45%). Complications like empyema (6.6%), acute on chronic liver failure (8.3%) and impending liver failure (23.3%) manifesting as ascites and oedema were seen only in patients in Group II and they also had longer hospital stay. (4.87 days in Group I vs 8.37 in Group II).

Conclusion: Patients of ALA with ALD have a more aggressive course of disease and should be managed with a lower threshold for abscess drainage.