[Recommendation of a new clinical classification of advanced schistosomiasis]

To recommend a new clinical classification of advanced schistosomiasis for improving the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effect of advanced schistosomiasis.

The medical records of 11 092 cases of advanced schistosomiasis from the Xiang-Yue Hospital from January 1990 to January 2010 and the medical aid centre for advance schistosomiasis in Hunan Province from January 2004 to January 2010 were collected and classified with the current and new clinical classification methods and the results were statistically analyzed and compared.

Based on the current classification method, there were huge splenomegaly (5 710 cases), ascites (2 993 cases), colon proliferative (834 cases), and dwarf (54 cases). However, 1 501 cases were excluded from the current classification. Based on the new classification method, there were 8 types: huge splenomegaly (2 870 cases), ascites (1 885 cases), colon proliferative (425 cases), dwarf (38 cases), universal (1 281 cases), bleeding (1 857 cases), hepatic coma (553 cases), and miscellaneous (1 759 cases). Totally 424 cases were classified into chronic schistosomiasis.

The new classification method can present a more comprehensive picture for clinical features, severe complications and prognosis of advanced schistosomiasis, and is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced schistosomiasis.