Hepatopulmonary amoebiasis. Efficacy of various treatment regimens containing dehydroemetine and/or metronidazole.

Thirty three patients with hepatopulmonary amoebiasis were studied. Pulmonary involvement was observed in 55%, pleuro-pulmonary lesions in 30%. Typical chocolate coloured sputum was obtained in 24% and pleural fluid in 21% of patients. Entamoeba histolytica were demonstrable in the sputum in only 6% and in the pleural fluid in 15%. The best therapeutic results were obtained with a combination of dehydroemetine and metronidazole. However, metronidazole was found to be nearly as effective as dehydroemetine, and metronidazole 400 mg and 800 mg were equally effective.