[Eosinophilic pleural effusion during the course of a giardiasis. Report of a case (author's transl)]

A case of eosinophilic pleural effusion with coincidental intestinal infestation by Giardia lamblia is reported. After reviewing the possible causes of this type of pleuritis no clinical or laboratory data were obtained which could explain this condition, excepting the giardiasis, in the course of which there is no bibliographic reference in this sense. After the parasitosis had been treated with metronidazole the parasitologic negativization coincided with the disappearance of the pleural effusion. A review of the etiologies described in relation to eosinophilic pleural effusion and of the factors involved in the movilization of eosinophils, especially those which have a relationship with parasitosis, was carried out. Parasitosis may be capable of determining immune reactions with release of eosinophilotactic substances. The fact that the lung of experimental animals has been shown to be a suitable tissue for the release of factors with eosinophilotactic activity, could indicate that this organ has a special reactive capacity and probably, together with it, a closely related structure such as the pleura could have it too.