Loa loa infection as a cause of migratory angioedema: report of three cases from the Texas Medical Center.

Autor: Rakita RM; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Houston., White AC Jr, Kielhofner MA
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America [Clin Infect Dis] 1993 Oct; Vol. 17 (4), pp. 691-4.
DOI: 10.1093/clinids/17.4.691
Abstrakt: Loa loa is a filarial parasite that is endemic in West and Central Africa. Expatriates infected with L. loa commonly develop characteristic migratory angioedema called Calabar swellings. We describe three patients who presented with classical Calabar swellings for whom the diagnosis of loiasis was delayed. Unusual features that were present included a leukocytoclastic vasculitis seen on skin biopsy (case 1), a relatively short exposure to an area of endemicity (cases 1 and 3), and a normal eosinophil count on initial evaluation (cases 2 and 3). We discuss the characteristic clinical manifestations of, pathological findings of, and therapy for loiasis. With the increased frequency of international travel, L. loa infection must be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with migratory angioedema, urticarial vasculitis, or eosinophilia.
Databáze: MEDLINE