Brain Abscess in a Patient With Decompensated Cirrhosis

Abstract

Brain abscess is rare but life-threatening, especially in a patient with decompensated cirrhosis. A 56-year-old woman with hepatitis B-related decompensated cirrhosis was admitted for disturbance of consciousness and high fever. She had right hemiparesis and mild neck stiffness, but no flapping tremor. Brain CT showed a low-density area in the left lenticular nucleus, indicating a brain abscess. She was given meropenem and ampicillin intravenously. Although the brain abscess improved, she died of progressive hepatic failure. In such patients, brain abscesses need to be distinguished from hepatic encephalopathy and treated quickly. Nevertheless, brain abscess in decompensated cirrhosis is extremely serious.




J Med Cases. 2011;2(2):55-57
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jmc128w