title: [Fatal "overwhelming" strongyloidiasis in an immunosuppressed patient].
abstract: The increased use of immunosuppressants in the treatment of malignant and non-malignant diseases in today's medicine has significantly contributed to the increased interest in infections caused by opportunistic microorganisms and rare parasites. A fifty-eight-year old male patient, professor, born in Bosnia, was admitted to the Institute due to poor general condition and decompensated steroid diabetes. He had been under immunosuppressant therapy for the previous 5 weeks. Six months before, he noticed squamous and crusted changes on capilli, and afterwards on his body too. As these changes did not respond to local therapy he was admitted to the Department of Dermatovenereology, Zagreb University School of Medicine. Histologic analysis indicated pemphigus erythematosus. He was treated with immunosuppressants (methylprednisolone + azathioprine). Endoscopic examinations revealed duodenal ulcer, in addition to diabetes which could not be regulated by oral hypoglycemics. He received antiulcerative therapy for ulcer treatment. Several hours upon admission the patient became highly febrile, and vomited a sanguinolent content. In spite of intensive therapy, he became comatose and died 20 hours later. On autopsy, generalized strongyloidosis of the lungs, liver, duodenum and small intestine, and a bleeding duodenal ulcer due to strongyloidosis were found. This review should remind us that hyperinfestation with strongyloides is a rare and severe complication, and could be expected in immunocompromised patients.
authors: Institut za dijabetes, endokrinologiju i bolesti metabolizma Vuk Vrhovac, Zagreb.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Bozikov
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Dzebro
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Seidl
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dominis
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Zambal
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Skrabalo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000473:pathology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000628:therapy; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
vernacular_title: Smrtonosna "preplavljujuća" strongiloidoza u bolesnika sa suprimiranim imunitetom.