[Hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly: three clinical cases and literature review]

Med Mal Infect. 2009 Jan;39(1):29-35. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2008.09.002. Epub 2008 Oct 25.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly (HMS) is the chronic stage of a long-term stimulation of the immune system secondary to plasmodial infections, more frequently in genetically predisposed patients. HMS is a leading cause of large tropical splenomegaly in endemic zones but has been described in immigrants from Africa and in some European expatriates living in endemic countries. Diagnostic criteria include: long-term stay in a endemic zone, often large splenomegaly, high IgM titer, high antiplasmodial antibody titer, regression by at least 40% of splenomegaly six months after curative antimalarial treatment. In tropical settings, B-cell lymphoma and splenic lymphoma are the main differential diagnoses, which may be identified by a clonality analysis. Recent studies suggest that HMS can be treated by a short-term antimalarial therapy as long as the patient resides out of a malarial endemic country.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Africa
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria / immunology*
  • Male
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification
  • Splenomegaly / etiology*
  • Splenomegaly / immunology*
  • Splenomegaly / parasitology