[Hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly in a European returning from Africa].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly (HMS) syndrome related to abnormal immunologic response to repeated malarial infections is unusual in European expatriates.

EXEGESIS:

We report the case of a 72-year-old white male patient who had been residing in the Congo and developed a typical clinical features of hyperactive malarial syndrome characterized by massive splenomegaly with hypersplenism, high titers of malarial IgM antibodies, IgM macroglobulinemia, liver and medullary lymphocytic proliferation, and a clinical and immunological response to long-term chloroquine therapy.

CONCLUSION:

Criteria for the diagnosis of hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly are useful. However, making a distinction from malignant lymphoproliferative disorders is difficult, as a sustained response to chloroquine is required. Therefore, chloroquine appears to have a regulatory effect on the immune system.

• Authors: H Granier, R Vatan, X Nicolas, M Richecoeur, J Martin
• Journal: La Revue de medecine interne (Rev Med Interne) Vol. 20 Issue 5 Pg. 431-3 (May 1999) ISSN: 0248-8663 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Splénomégalie malarique hyperréactive chez un Européen revenant d'Afrique.
• PMID: 10365415 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Protozoan
• Immunoglobulin M

Topics

• Aged
• Antibodies, Protozoan (blood)
• Congo
• France (ethnology)
• Humans
• Hypergammaglobulinemia (blood, immunology, parasitology)
• Immunoglobulin M (blood)
• Liver (immunology)
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Malaria (complications, immunology)
• Male
• Spleen (immunology, pathology)
• Splenomegaly (immunology, parasitology)