ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is an endemic disease prevalent in tropical countries and is associated with a high incidence of portal vein thrombosis. Inflammatory changes caused by both parasitic infection and portal thrombosis can lead to the development of chronic liver disease with potential carcinogenesis.
AIMS:
To assess the incidence of portal vein thrombosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with schistosomiasis during long-term follow-up.
METHODS:
A retrospective study was conducted involving patients with schistosomiasis followed up at our institution between 1990 and 2021.
RESULTS:
A total of 126 patients with schistosomiasis were evaluated in the study. The mean follow-up time was 16 years (range 5–31). Of the total, 73 (57.9%) patients presented portal vein thrombosis during follow-up. Six (8.1%) of them were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, all with portal vein thrombosis diagnosed more than ten years before.
CONCLUSIONS:
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with schistosomiasis and chronic portal vein thrombosis highlights the importance of a systematic long-term follow-up in this group of patients.
HEADINGS:
Schistosomiasis; Portal vein; Thrombosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma
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