Korean J Parasitol.  2009 Mar;47(1):19-23. 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.1.19.

Changes in Sonographic Findings after Treatment of Patients with Clonorchiasis in a Heavy Endemic Area

• Choi D
• Jeon YH
• Lee GC
• Choi MH
• Hong ST

• KMID: 1720604
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2009.47.1.19

Abstract

We measured changes in sonographic findings of patients with clonorchiasis after a treatment in a highly endemic area. A total of 347 residents showed positive stool results for Clonorchis sinensis eggs in a village in northeastern China, and were treated with praziquantel. Of them, 132 patients underwent abdominal sonography both before and 1 year after treatment, and the changes in sonographic findings of 83 cured subjects were compared. Diffuse dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts (DDIHD) was found in 82 patients (98.2%) before and 80 (96.4%) after treatment, which was improved in 3, aggravated in 1, and unchanged in 79 patients. Increased periductal echogenicity (IPDE) was observed in 42 patients (50.6%) before and 45 (54.2%) after treatment, which was improved in 5, aggravated in 8, and unchanged in 70 patients. Floating echogenic foci in the gallbladder (FEFGB) was detected in 32 patients (38.6%) before and 17 (20.5%) after treatment, which was improved in 20, aggravated in 5, and unchanged in 58 patients. Improvement of FEFGB only was statistically significantly (P = 0.004). The present results confirm that DDIHD and IPDE persist but FEFGB decreases significantly at 1 year after treatment. In a heavy endemic area, the sonographic finding of FEFGB may suggest active clonorchiasis 1 year after treatment.

Keyword

Clonorchis sinensis; praziquantel; abdominal sonography; dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts; periductal echogenicity; floating echogenic foci in the gallbladder

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/parasitology/ultrasonography
Child
China/epidemiology
Clonorchiasis/complications/*drug therapy/epidemiology/*ultrasonography
*Endemic Diseases
Female
Gallbladder/parasitology/ultrasonography
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Praziquantel/*therapeutic use
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult