Human pulmonary dirofilariasis: a review Dirofilaríase humana pulmonar: revisão

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Rosângela Rodrigues-Silva, Hércules Moura, Cerusa Dreyer, Luiz Rey
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 1995
• Subjects: Human pulmonary dirofilariasis; Epidemiology; Dirofilaria immitis; Dirofilaria repens; Brazil; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46651995000600009; https://doaj.org/article/e1d27eecc8b54b259fc67afe4dbe7224

The authors presented a detailed summary of the geographical distribution, clinical and pathological aspects of human pulmonary dirofilariasis. Although benign, this zoonosis, of which Dirofilaria immitis is the major etiological agent, represents a medical problem since it produces symptoms which may be confused with neoplasia and thus may subject patients to unnecessary thoracic surgery. Of 229 cases cited in the literature, only 17 were reported in Brazil, despite the existence of highly favorable conditions for the transmission of this infection in man. Thus it may well be that this parasitic infection remains underdiagnosed. Finally, the importance of a differential diagnosis between dirofilariasis and pulmonary neoplasia is emphasized in cases where there is a solitary subpleural nodule ("coin lesion") present. In addition, the development and improvement of modern immunological diagnostic techniques are essential to distinguish this benign disease from other pathological conditions and thus avoid unneccessary surgery. These techniques may reveal the true prevalence of this parasitic infection in our environment. Os autores realizaram minuciosa revisão sobre a distribuição geográfica, a clínica, a patologia e o diagnóstico da dirofilaríase pulmonar humana. Esta zoonose, que tem como principal agente etiológico a Dirofilaria immitis, é um problema médico porque produz um quadro clínico, embora benigno, que se confunde com neoplasia e, assim interpretado, pode conduzir o paciente à cirurgia do tórax. Dos 229 casos citados na literatura, apenas 17 foram descritos no Brasil, apesar da existência de condições muito favoráveis à transmissão da infecção para o homem, admitindo-se portanto, que é uma parasitose subdiagnosticada. Finalmente, a importância do diagnóstico diferencial entre dirofilaríase e neoplasias pulmonares nos casos de presença de nódulo solitário subpleural ("coin lesion") é destacada, além do que o desenvolvimento e aprimoramento de técnicas modernas de diagnóstico imunológico são essenciais ...