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Liver biopsy in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis
Author(s) -
Artan Reha,
Yilmaz Aygen,
Akçam Mustafa,
Aksoy Nazif Hikmet
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2006.04172.x
Subject(s) - medicine , visceral leishmaniasis , liver biopsy , bone marrow , biopsy , serology , pancytopenia , leishmaniasis , pathology , bone marrow examination , immunology , antibody
Aim: To determine whether liver biopsy might be useful in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis when bone marrow examination and serologic tests are inconclusive. Methods: Over a 10‐year period, liver biopsy was performed in five children with suspected visceral leishmaniasis when indirect hemagglutination tests and bone marrow aspirations were not diagnostic. Results: Leishmania amastigotes were seen in Kupffer cells in all patients. The accompanying liver histopathological findings were ischemic necrosis in two children, macrovesicular steatosis in two children, portal inflammatory inflammation in two children, and piecemeal necrosis in one child. During the study period, 32 additional pediatric visceral leishmaniasis cases were diagnosed by bone marrow examination. Conclusion: Liver biopsy can be recommended for diagnosing suspected visceral leishmaniasis in children when serology and bone marrow aspiration are inconclusive.