A study on tropical splenomegaly syndrome and chloroquine prophylaxis.
Forty-two adults (22 males, 20 females) with tropical splenomegaly syndrome (TSS) were studied. Majority (88.1%) presented with complaints related to grossly enlarged spleen (greater than 10 cm). The duration of splenomegaly was 1 to 5 years in 54.8%. In 80.9% there was anaemia (Hb less than 10 g%). None of the patients had a macrocytic blood picture. Evidence of portal hypertension was observed in 56.7% and almost a similar number (58.1%) had raised intrasplenic pressure. The liver histology was entirely normal in only 8.8%. T-cell lymphopenia with B-cell lymphocytosis was a prominent feature. IgM values were raised in 73.8% and malarial antibody titres in 91.7% patients. Sixty-nine per cent of cases showed a distinct clinical and biochemical improvement after chloroquine chemoprophylaxis. Though a malarial origin in the development of TSS is favoured its precise aetiology is as yet speculative.
Gupta
O P
OP
Bajaj
S
S
Gupta
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013577:Syndrome; D014329:Tropical Climate
D002738:Chloroquine