Alterações pulmonares cintilográficas e espirométricas em pacientes jovens portadores de esquistossomose mansônica tratados clínica e cirurgicamente na infância

OBJETIVOS: O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar as alterações pulmonares de pacientes portadores de esquistossomose hepatoesplênica, tratados clínica e cirurgicamente, através da cintilografia pulmonar de perfusão e espirometria. MÉTODO: Trinta pacientes jovens portadores de esquistossomose mansônica hepatoesplênica, previamente tratados clínica e cirurgicamente, se submeteram a cintilografia pulmonar de perfusão e avaliação da capacidade respiratória pela espirometria. RESULTADOS: Ao exame cintilográfico, constataram-se alterações em 33,3% dos pacientes e padrão restritivo pulmonar em 30% das espirometrias. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência do acometimento pulmonar, avaliado pela Medicina Nuclear, se situou abaixo do observado em pacientes não tratados, relatados na literatura. O padrão restritivo pulmonar, entretanto, avaliado pela espirometria, foi elevado e merece atenção especial no seguimento e manuseio desses pacientes

Autotransplant of Spleen Tissue in Children with Schistosomiasis: Evaluation of Splenic Function after Splenosis

Autotransplantation of spleen tissue has been done, in the past ten years, in children with schistosomiasis mansoni with bleeding varices. The purposes of this investigation were: (1) to study the morphology and function of the remnant spleen tissue; (2) to quantify the production of tuftsin; and (3) to assess the immune response to pneomococcal vaccine of these patients. Twenty three children, who underwent splenectomy and autologous implantation of spleen tissue into the greater omentum were included in this investigation. The average postoperative follow-up is five years. Splenosis was proved by colloid liver-spleen scans. Search for Howell-Jolly bodies assessed the filtration function. Tuftsin and the titer of pneumococcal antibodies were quantified by ELISA. Splenosis was evident in all children; however, it was insufficient in two. Howell-Jolly bodies were found only in these two patients. The mean tuftsin serum concentration (335.0 ± 29.8 ng/ml) was inside the normal range. The immune response to pneumococcal vaccination was adequate in 15 patients; intermediate in four; and inadequate in four. From the results the following conclusions can be drawn: splenosis was efficient in maintaining the filtration splenic function in more than 90% and produced tuftsin inside the range of normality. It also provided the immunologic splenic response to pneumococcal vaccination in 65% of the patients of this series