title: Eradication of Blastocystis hominis prevents the development of symptomatic Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a case report.
abstract: In this case report we describe a 49 year-old man who presented with chronic urticaria, angioedema and soft stool consistency. During diagnostic examinations Hashimoto's thyroiditis was found even though the patient never had clear symptoms of this disease. Blastocystis hominis was isolated through a stool microbiologic examination, implicating that this parasite can cause the development of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and chronic urticaria. After two-weeks treatment with metronidazole the Blastocystis hominis was eradicated, then urticaria and angioedema disappeared. During the four years of follow-up, the patient presented without any symptoms, whereas thyroid hormones were normalized and anti-thyroid antibodies declined. For the first time in the literature we show that eradication of Blastocystis hominis can prevent the development of both symptomatic Hashimoto's thyroiditis and chronic urticaria.
authors.affiliation: University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. borkorajic@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Borko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rajič
authors.forename: Jurica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arapović
authors.forename: Kazimir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raguž
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bošković
authors.forename: Senaida Marina
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maslać
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole