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Isolation And Dendritic Cell-Uptake of Small Extracellular Vesicles from Echinococcus granulosus
Published on: March 28, 2025
Cardiopulmonary Echinococcus Infection
Naama A R Almaazmi1, Zainab Alshebli2, Nour Alneyadi2
1Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Insights
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a parasitic infection, rarely affects the heart. This case report details a rare instance of cardiac involvement in a patient with CE, emphasizing diagnostic challenges.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic parasitic infection.
- CE typically manifests in the liver and lungs, with cardiac involvement being exceptionally rare.
- Early diagnosis and management are crucial for patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A 28-year-old male patient from India presented with persistent cough and hemoptysis.
- Radiological imaging revealed bilateral pulmonary lesions and cystic lesions in the right ventricle.
- Echinococcal serology was positive, confirming parasitic infection.
Findings:
- Surgical lung biopsy showed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation with laminated eosinophilic material, characteristic of echinococcosis.
- The presence of cystic lesions in the right ventricle signifies unusual cardiac involvement.
- Diagnostic confirmation relied on a combination of imaging, serology, and histopathology.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for cardiac manifestation in cystic echinococcosis, even in endemic regions.
- It highlights the diagnostic complexities and the need for heightened clinical suspicion for cardiac CE.
- Further research into the mechanisms and management strategies for cardiac CE is warranted.
Abstract:
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus, primarily affects the liver and lungs. However, cardiac involvement is uncommon. This case report presents an unusual instance of heart involvement in a patient with CE. A 28-year-old man from India presented with a persistent cough and hemoptysis. Imaging revealed bilateral lung lesions along with cystic lesions in his right ventricle. The echinococcal serology result was positive, and a surgical biopsy from the lung demonstrated necrotizing granulomatous inflammation with laminated eosinophilic material, consistent with echinococcosis. This case highlights the possibility of cardiac involvement in CE and the challenges associated with its diagnosis and management.
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