Abdominal ultrasound in the evaluation of fibrosis and portal hypertension in an area of schistosomiasis low endemicity.
This study was undertaken in the municipality of Bananal, São Paulo, an endemic area for schistosomiasis with a prevalence under 10% and low parasite load among infected individuals. Our objective was to identify the clinical forms of schistosomiasis among 109 patients in whom the disease had been diagnosed through direct fecal analysis and who had been medicated with oxamniquine at the time of the Plan for the Intensification of Schistosomiasis Control Actions (1998-2000). These patients were submitted to an abdominal ultrasonography and fecal analysis by Kato-Katz method, four years, on average, after the end of the Plan. Five patients, whose abdominal ultrasound images were compatible with either peripheral or central periportal fibrosis and portal hypertension, were identified. None of the 109 patients presented Schistosoma mansoni eggs at fecal analysis. Ultrasonography is a sensitive, noninvasive diagnostic method that allows a better identification of the extent of liver involvement in schistosomiasis cases.
Espírito Santo
Maria Cristina Carvalho do
MC
Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. cristinaespiritosanto@uol.com.br
Azeredo
Letícia Martins
LM
Teles
Horácio Manuel Santana
HM
Gryschek
Ronaldo Cesar Borges
RC
Ferreira
Cláudio Santos
CS
Amato Neto
Vicente
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography