Leishmania infantum leishmaniasis in corticosteroid – treated patients

Autor: De Marco Michele, Ghirga Piero, Spinazzola Francesco, Nicastri Emanuele, Pittalis Silvia, Paglia Maria, Narciso Pasquale
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: BMC Infectious Diseases, Vol 6, Iss 1, p 177 (2006)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-6-177
Popis: Abstract Background The number of leishmaniasis cases associated with immunosuppression has increased regularly over the past 20 years. Immunosuppression related to HIV infection, immunosuppressive treatment, organ transplantation, and neoplastic diseases increases the risk for Leishmania-infected people to develop visceral illness. Case presentation Three cases of Leishmania infantum leishmaniasis in corticosteroid (CS)-treated patients are reported: an isolated lingual leishmaniasis in a farmer treated with CS for asthma, a severe visceral leishmaniasis associated with cutaneous lesions in a woman with myasthenia gravis, and a visceral involvement after cutaneous leishmaniasis in a man receiving CS. Conclusion Physicians should recognise CS-treated patients as a population likely to be immunesuppressed. In immunodeficiency conditions, unusual forms of leishmaniasis can develop and foster the risk of a diagnostic delay and of poor response to therapy.
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