[A case of hepatic Loeffler's syndrome].
BACKGROUND
During nematode infection transit of the microorganism in the lung may be associated with transient infiltration lesions accompanied by marked eosinophilia. In the invasion stage of the disease maturation and sexual differentiation of schistosomules is restricted to portal vessels. Liver ultrasonography may show concomitant abnormalities.


METHODS
Eosinophilia was diagnosed in a 36-year-old man residing in Central Africa. Clinical examination, chest X-ray and biology were normal. Liver ultrasonography showed numerous hypoechoic lesions, up to 3 cm in diameter. Ultrasonography-directed biopsy demonstrated infiltration of both portal vessels and liver sinusoids, with sometimes microabcesses. No parasite was found in either blood, stool, or rectal biopsy. Immunoelectrophoresis and hemagglutination showed positive bilharziosis serology, whereas serology for other helminthiases was negative. Four months after treatment eosinophilia was still high, liver ultrasonography was normal, and hemagglutination was negative.


CONCLUSIONS
The transient shistosomules maturation-related liver abnormalities detected by ultrasonography should be differentiated from the laying phase of the disease.
Arteaga
C
C
Service de radiologie et d'imagerie médicale, hôpital interdrmée Laveran, Marseille Armées, France.
Clavel
G
G
Perret
J L
JL
Martet
G
G
Wade
B
B
Briant
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications*; D014463:Ultrasonography