Assessment of portal hemodynamics by doppler ultrasound and of liver morphology in the hepatosplenic and hepatointestinal forms of schistosomiasis mansoni

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences 2006-08, Vol.51 (8), p.1413-1419
• Main Authors: CERQUEIRA PARANAGUA VEZOZZO, Denise, QUEIROZ FARIAS, Alberto, GUIDO CERRI, Giovanni, CAETANO DA SILVA, Luiz, CARRILHO, Flair José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Cardiovascular system; Diseases caused by trematodes; Feces - parasitology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Helminthic diseases; Humans; Hypertension, Portal - diagnostic imaging; Hypertension, Portal - etiology; Hypertension, Portal - physiopathology; Infectious diseases; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - complications; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - diagnostic imaging; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - physiopathology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Liver Circulation - physiology; Liver Diseases, Parasitic - complications; Liver Diseases, Parasitic - diagnostic imaging; Liver Diseases, Parasitic - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Schistosoma; Schistosoma mansoni - isolation & purification; Schistosomiases; Schistosomiasis mansoni - complications; Schistosomiasis mansoni - diagnostic imaging; Schistosomiasis mansoni - physiopathology; Splenic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Splenic Diseases - parasitology; Splenic Diseases - physiopathology; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-005-9020-1

The aim of this study was to compare portal and splenic blood flows and the liver morphology in hepatosplenic (HS) and hepatointestinal (HI) schistosomiasis. Doppler ultrasound measurements were performed in 48 adult patients with schistosomiasis, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, and compared with those performed in 20 healthy controls. Portal flow was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in both HS and HI (2481 +/- 1467 and 2159 +/- 1446 ml/min, respectively) than in normal individuals (842 +/- 322 ml/min). There was no difference in splenic blood flow (822 +/- 685 and 458 +/- 292 ml/min, respectively) between HS and HI, but these values were significantly higher than those of normal controls (243 +/- 94 ml/min). Portal and splenic overflow are found in both the HS and the HI forms of schistosomiasis.