title: Clinical and ultrasound findings before and after praziquantel treatment among Venezuelan schistosomiasis patients.
abstract: Abdominal ultrasound can be a useful tool for diagnosing periportal fibrosis related to Schistosoma mansoni infection, and also for planning and monitoring the evolution of hepatic morbidity following control measures. We evaluated the standardized ultrasound methodology proposed by the World Health Organization for detecting periportal fibrosis and portal hypertension, among patients from an endemic area in Venezuela, and the impact of praziquantel treatment 3-5 years later. After chemotherapy, complete reversal of periportal lesions was observed in 28.2% of the cases and progression of the disease in 5.1%. Improvement in the hepatic disease started with a reduction in the periportal thickening followed by a decrease in the size of the left hepatic lobe, spleen and mesenteric and spleen veins. Ultrasound confirmed the clinical findings after chemotherapy among the patients with reversal of the disease. However, in patients with more advanced disease, these findings were contradictory. There was no correlation between evolution of the disease seen on ultrasound and age, intensity of infection or serological findings.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, Venezuela. raizaruiz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Raiza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Guevara
authors.forename: Belkisyolé Alarcón
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: de Noya
authors.forename: Sharon Kay
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lecuna
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garassini
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Noya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014687:Venezuela
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel