Independent risk factors for mortality by multivariate analysis:
(1) low serum albumin (< 2.5 g/dL)
(2) leukocytosis (> 20,000 per µL)
(3) presence of pleural effusion (secondary to subphrenic inflammation)
Additional risk factors that did not reach statistical significance in multivariate analysis:
(1) multiple abscesses not due to acute cholangitis
(2) obvious jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia > 2.0 mg/dL
(3) elevated serum AST (SGOT) > 100 IU/L
(4) elevated serum alkaline phosphatase > 150 IU/L
(5) positive blood cultures
Limitations:
• The methods and reference ranges for the laboratory tests were not stated.
