[Chronic cor pulmonale due to granulomatous and obliterating pulmonary arteritis caused by schistosomiasis]

Among 3,125 autopsies undertaken at the Department of Pathology of the "Américo Boavida" Hospital in Luanda, from January 1976 to March 1987, we recorded four cases of children with schistosomiasis. Macroscopically, we observed Symmers type periportal fibrosis and chronic cor pulmonale secondary to schistosomiasis of liver and spleen. Histological examination of the lungs revealed granulomatous arteritis, obliterating segmental endarteritis and multiple schistosoma granulomas in the parenchyma. Pulmonary hypertension had caused secondary changes to arteries, such as subendothelial fibrosis and hypertrophy of the media.