A case of giardiasis expressing severe systemic symptoms and marked hypereosinophilia

作者:Suzuki Yuhko*; Nakamura Takeshi; Tokoro Masaharu; Togano Tomiteru; Ohsaka Manabu; Kohri Mika; Hirata Yasuyoshi; Miyazaki Koji; Danbara Mikio; Hone Ryouichi; Miura Ikuo; Sunakawa Keisuke; Higashihara Masaaki
来源:Parasitology International, 2010, 59(3): 487-489.
DOI:10.1016/j.parint.2010.06.006

摘要

An 88-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital due to a one-month history of face edema, aphagia, shortness of breath, and skin rush over almost her entire skin. She had no abdominal symptoms. Her peripheral blood count showed a white blood cell (WBC) count of 27.1 x 10(9)/L with 82.1% eosinophils. Serum non-specific Immunoglobulin E was within a normal range. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor was elevated to 4200 U/mL. At first, her eosinophil count was so high that we suspected she had an eosinophilic leukemia or hypereosinophilic syndrome. After admission, cysts of Giardia duodenalis (G. duodenalis) were detected in the patient's feces by microscopic analysis, then she was diagnosed with giardiasis, and 750 mg per day of metronidazole was administered for seven days. Her WBC count decreased to 6.0 x 10(9)/L with 10% eosinophils, and her systemic symptoms improved. At that time her serum IL-5 was within a normal range. A few months later, the patient again complained of skin rush, and G. duodenalis was once again found in her feces. Her serum IL-5 was elevated to 751 pg/mL. Metronidazole was administered for two weeks, and her eosinophil count decreased. G. duodenalis is a protozoan parasite, and it is one of the most common waterborne transmission gastrointestinal parasites in the world. G. duodenalis rarely causes hypereosinophilia. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of giardiasis with extreme hypereosinophilia and severe systemic symptoms.

  • 出版日期2010-9