title: [Blastocystis hominis in symptomatic celiac patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Celiac disease (EC) not diagnosed or treated affect histological, immunological and nutritional status of patients who suffer it. These changes allow infection by parasites that cause no symptoms in immunocompetent patients, such as Blastocystis hominis (Bh). OBJETIVE. To analyze the presence of Bh in symptomatic celiac patients and describe the clinical, histological, immune and nutritional status in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD An observational descriptive cross sectional study was performed. Thirty symptomatic celiac patients (18 women, mean age 41 years old, range 19-68 years), assisted at the Institute of Gastroenterology of Cuba from January to December 2009, entered the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diarrhea and chronic anemia were the most commonly reported clinical manifestations (22 and 4 patients, respectively). The analysis of more than five Bh per field was more frequent in the group ofpatients studied (63.3%), with statistically significant difference in patients with vilous atrophy and low weight (P < 0.03) compared to cases with less than five Bh per feld. No significant differences were found when the immune status of patients was analyzed. CONCLUSIONS. In symptomatic celiac patients with subtotal-total villous atrophy and low weight the finding of more than five Bh perfield should be considered as opportunistic.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Intestino Delgado y Enfermedades Malabsortivas, Instituto de Gastroenterologia, La Habana, Cuba. villa@infomed.sld.cu
authors.forename: Oscar Manuel Villa
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: Angel Escobedo
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: Olga Marina Hano
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Lisette Wood
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Frank Pérez
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Triana
authors.forename: Licet González
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Fabián
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001706:Biopsy; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000469:parasitology*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult