P. falciparum malaria recrudescence in a cancer patient.
Persons living for long periods of time in malaria hyper-endemic areas may suffer from hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly (HMS), a frequent cause of splenomegaly in such areas. Splenomegaly and sub-microscopic P. falciparum parasitaemia are hallmarks of HMS. Spleen has been suggested to play a protective antimalarial role and splenectomy may trigger symptomatic malaria attacks. Other causes of immune suppression may possibly reactivate latent malaria parasites. We report the case of an Italian 60-year-old male, who had spent 33 years in sub-Saharan Africa, who experienced a P. falciparum malaria attack 12 months after his return to Italy, concomitantly with a diagnosis of lung carcinoma possibly impairing his immune system.
Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Foca
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Zulli
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Buelli
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De Vecchi
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Regazzoli
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Castelli
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000469:parasitology; D012008:Recurrence; D013636:Tanzania