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Blastocystis hominis as a cause of hypoalbuminemia and anasarca

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Abstract

The protozoan Blastocystis hominis has been considered nonpathogenic, but this classification has come under scrutiny in light of reports in the medical literature indicating it could be the cause of intestinal disorders and, in one case, hypoalbuminemia. Reported here is a severe case of infection with B. hominis that caused acute gastroenteritis with prolonged diarrhea, hypoalbuminemia and anasarca. The diagnosis was based on the parasitological finding, since no other pathological evidence was found. The patient responded favorably to treatment with metronidazole for 10 days. This case supports the idea that B. hominis should be considered as a cause of opportunistic infection in debilitated patients despite the controversy surrounding its pathogenicity.

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Acknowledgment

This work is dedicated to Alter L. Lejbkowicz in memorium.

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Author notes

  1. F. Lejbkowicz

    Present address: Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 31096, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Western Galilee Hospital, Nahariya, Israel

    E. Nassir, J. Awad & M. Shay

  2. Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Western Galilee Hospital, Nahariya, Israel

    A. B. Abel & F. Lejbkowicz

  3. Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Western Galilee Hospital, Nahariya, Israel

    J. Khoury

Authors
  1. E. Nassir
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  2. J. Awad
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  3. A. B. Abel
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  4. J. Khoury
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  5. M. Shay
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  6. F. Lejbkowicz
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Correspondence to F. Lejbkowicz.

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Nassir, E., Awad, J., Abel, A.B. et al. Blastocystis hominis as a cause of hypoalbuminemia and anasarca. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 23, 399–402 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1122-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1122-8

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