TY - JOUR
T1 - Liver schistosomiasis
T2 - an unexpected finding in hepatitis B virus-related chronic hepatitis
AU - Ranalli, Teresa V.
AU - Dell'Isola, Serena
AU - Gomes, Vito V.
AU - Ialungo, Anna Maria
AU - Starnini, Giulio
AU - Roselli, Paola
AU - Ghittoni, Giorgia
AU - Caturelli, Eugenio
PY - 2008/11
Y1 - 2008/11
N2 - Case report: We report the unusual case of an African patient who underwent a liver biopsy for a chronic HBV-related hepatitis, whose histological sample also unexpectedly revealed elements diagnostic for schistosomiasis. The patient was only mildly symptomatic for the Schistosoma infestation; stool examination confirmed the presence of parasitic eggs. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-schistosomiasis co-infection is particularly rare in Western countries. Only the identification of some pathological elements atypical for HBV infection by means of step sections in the liver biopsy sample allowed us to disclose the unsuspected diagnosis. Conclusions: Since migratory flows have increased, the number of foreign people being referred to our hospitals has increased. Patients coming from areas endemic for infectious diseases that are absent in Western countries must be carefully evaluated, taking into account possible unexpected co-infections, including in the setting of pathological studies of liver biopsies.
AB - Case report: We report the unusual case of an African patient who underwent a liver biopsy for a chronic HBV-related hepatitis, whose histological sample also unexpectedly revealed elements diagnostic for schistosomiasis. The patient was only mildly symptomatic for the Schistosoma infestation; stool examination confirmed the presence of parasitic eggs. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-schistosomiasis co-infection is particularly rare in Western countries. Only the identification of some pathological elements atypical for HBV infection by means of step sections in the liver biopsy sample allowed us to disclose the unsuspected diagnosis. Conclusions: Since migratory flows have increased, the number of foreign people being referred to our hospitals has increased. Patients coming from areas endemic for infectious diseases that are absent in Western countries must be carefully evaluated, taking into account possible unexpected co-infections, including in the setting of pathological studies of liver biopsies.
KW - Hepatitis B virus infection
KW - Liver biopsy
KW - Schistosomiasis
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.04.013
DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.04.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 18691925
AN - SCOPUS:54349096759
VL - 12
JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
SN - 1201-9712
IS - 6
ER -