Successful treatment of liver abscesses with corticosteroids and antibiotics in an infant with chronic granulomatous disease

Liver abscesses occur in up to one-third of patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Surgery has traditionally been considered the cornerstone of management. Emerging reports in older children and adults, however, have demonstrated successful treatment of CGD-related liver abscesses with corticosteroids and antibiotics alone. We describe the safe and effective use of corticosteroids and antibiotics for CGD-related liver abscesses in an infant with X-linked CGD who had high surgical risk for hepatic resection. Medical management was started at 11 months of age and the abscesses resolved without requiring any subsequent invasive surgical procedures. This case report highlights that corticosteroids and antibiotics may be considered in the management of CGD-related liver abscesses in the infant age group, especially when surgical management is not an option.