Tropical gastrointestinal disease: hepatosplenic schistosomiasis--pathological, clinical and treatment review. 1994

K C Shekhar
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.

S. mansoni and S. japonicum complex schistosomes cause hepatosplenic and hepatointestinal schistosomiasis. The prevalence and incidence of this disease is increasing in all the endemic areas. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is seen in a small subset of clinically infected patients and represents a good model of intrahepatic portal hypertension characterised by a presinusoidal portal block and a well preserved liver parenchyma. Symmers' fibrosis is seen in a significant proportion of patients with high worm load. While the pathogenesis of Symmers' pipe stem fibrosis has not been well established, experimental and clinical data point to egg induced granulomata. The main consequences are presinusoidal portal hypertension, oesophageal varices and hepatosplenomegaly. The most striking symptoms are haematemesis or melena secondary to variceal and gastrointestinal bleeding. Cofactors associated with the pathogenesis include aflatoxins, malnutrition, alcoholism, hepatitis B and C virus. While stool examination is the best technique for diagnosis, a number of immunological tests though sensitive are not specific. Ultrasonography is sensitive for detection of Symmer's fibrosis. Praziquantel and oxaminiquine are drugs found to be effective in the treatment of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Recently beta-blockers have been found to be effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal rebleeding. Endoscopic sclerotherapy has been found to be effective for treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices. The treatment of choice for portal hypertension is oesophagogastric devascularization with splenectomy (EGDS).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006975 Hypertension, Portal Abnormal increase of resistance to blood flow within the hepatic PORTAL SYSTEM, frequently seen in LIVER CIRRHOSIS and conditions with obstruction of the PORTAL VEIN. Cruveilhier-Baumgarten Disease,Cruveilhier-Baumgarten Syndrome,Cruveilhier Baumgarten Disease,Cruveilhier Baumgarten Syndrome,Disease, Cruveilhier-Baumgarten,Portal Hypertension,Portal Hypertensions,Syndrome, Cruveilhier-Baumgarten
D008103 Liver Cirrhosis Liver disease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules. Cirrhosis, Liver,Fibrosis, Liver,Hepatic Cirrhosis,Liver Fibrosis,Cirrhosis, Hepatic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012552 Schistosomiasis Infection with flukes (trematodes) of the genus SCHISTOSOMA. Three species produce the most frequent clinical diseases: SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM (endemic in Africa and the Middle East), SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI (in Egypt, northern and southern Africa, some West Indies islands, northern 2/3 of South America), and SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM (in Japan, China, the Philippines, Celebes, Thailand, Laos). S. mansoni is often seen in Puerto Ricans living in the United States. Bilharziasis,Katayama Fever,Schistoma Infection,Bilharziases,Fever, Katayama,Infection, Schistoma,Infections, Schistoma,Schistoma Infections,Schistosomiases
D012554 Schistosomiasis japonica Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum. It is endemic in the ASIA, EASTERN and affects the bowel, liver, and spleen. Schistosoma japonicum Infection,Schistosomiasis japonicum,Infection, Schistosoma japonicum,Infections, Schistosoma japonicum,Schistosoma japonicum Infections
D012555 Schistosomiasis mansoni Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni. It is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean and affects mainly the bowel, spleen, and liver. Schistosomiasis, Intestinal,Schistosoma mansoni Infection,Infection, Schistosoma mansoni,Infections, Schistosoma mansoni,Intestinal Schistosomiases,Intestinal Schistosomiasis,Schistosoma mansoni Infections,Schistosomiases, Intestinal
D013158 Splenic Diseases Diseases involving the SPLEEN. Disease, Splenic,Diseases, Splenic,Splenic Disease

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