Soluble CD23 and IL-5 levels in the serum and culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a girl with cutaneous paragonimiasis: case report

IgE low affinity receptor (CD23) expression, Plasmodium falciparum specific IgE and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in Thai uncomplicated and severe falciparum malaria patients

Previous studies have suggested that Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) specific IgE in the form of immune complexes crosslinking the low-affinity receptor (CD23) on monocyte results in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO) production. However, the roles of these parameters in severity and immune protection are still unclear. This study aimed to determine the association between CD23 expression on monocytes, plasma soluble CD23 (sCD23), total IgE, malaria-specific IgE and IgG, and TNF-α levels in P. falciparum infected patients. We evaluated 64 uncomplicated (UC) and 25 severe patients (S), admitted at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mahidol University, and 34 healthy controls (C) enrolled in 2001. Flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) demonstrated that trends of the CD23 expression, levels of sCD23 and specific IgE were higher in the S group as compared to those in the UC and C groups. Plasma levels of P. falciparum specific IgE in the UC (p=0.011) and S groups (p=0.025) were significantly higher than those in C group. In contrast the TNF-α levels tended to be higher in the UC than those in the S (p=0.343) and significantly higher than those in C (p=0.004) groups. The specific IgG levels in UC were significantly higher than those in S and C (p<0.001) groups. At admission, a strong significant negative correlation was found between specific IgG and sCD23 (r=-0.762, p=0.028), and TNF-α and IgE-IgG complexes (r=-0.715, p=0.002). Significant positive correlations between levels of specific IgE and TNF-α (r=0.575, p=0.010); and sCD23 (r=0.597, p=0.000) were also observed. In conclusion, our data suggest that CD23 expression and malaria-specific IgE levels may be involved in the severity of the disease while TNF-α and the malaria-specific IgG may correlate with protection against falciparum malaria.

Extra-pulmonary paragonimiasis with unusual arthritis and cutaneous features among a tourist returning from Gabon

Paragonimiasis is a helminthic disease that affect accidentally man after consumption of raw or poorly cooked crustacean dishes. The clinical feature is represented mainly by pulmonary signs. Extra-pulmonary manifestations including arthritic and skin attempt remain less frequent. The case is described of a young white French woman who become infected with Paragonimus while travelling to Gabon for a tourist trip. Clinical presentation accounted for extensive recurrent pruritic urticarian subcutaneous induration, permanent assymetrical pauciarthritis associated with joint swelling, and marked eosinophilia. Diagnosis was reached using serological testing showing seroconversion for specific antibodies. The patient was cured with a single oral dose of praziquantel. Even if the condition is rare among tourists to endemic zones, it must be considered when hypereosinophilia occurs in the returning traveller and migrant.

A case of cutaneous paragonimiasis with pleural effusion

BACKGROUND

Paragonimiasis is an infectious disease caused by Paragonimus, which persists in the lung of mammals. Infection in the skin is very rare.

RESULTS

A subcutaneous tumor with itching developed on the right lateroabdominal region of a 55-year-old man 10 days after eating fresh-water crab. It was surgically excised 2 months later. Examination of a specimen of the surgically excised tumor revealed an abscess containing many eosinophils. Parasites or other infectious organisms were not found in sections. The blood eosinophil count of the patient was elevated, and P. westermani-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titer was strongly detected in the serum. The tumor was diagnosed as cutaneous paragonimiasis caused by P. westermani. Three months after eating the crab, a chest X-ray film showed a pleural effusion. P. westermani-specific IgG antibody was also detected in the pleural fluid. The patient was given 75 mg/kg/day of praziquantel for 3 days. The pleural effusion gradually disappeared after the medication.

CONCLUSIONS

This patient had cutaneous paragonimiasis with a skin tumor that was diagnosed prior to the expression of a pleural effusion.

Clinicoradiologic features of pleuropulmonary Paragonimus westermani on Kyusyu Island, Japan

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Recently, the number of new cases of Paragonimus westermani in humans has gradually increased, and paragonimiasis is a re-emerging public health issue in Kyusyu, Japan. We review our recent experience with pleuropulmonary Paragonimus westermani.

PATIENTS

Pulmonary paragonimiasis was diagnosed in 13 patients at the Third Department of Internal Medicine, Miyazaki Medical College between 1993 and 1999.

RESULTS

Both sputum and bronchoscopic examinations revealed ova in four of nine patients; bronchoscopy yielded ova in two additional patients. Twelve patients (92%) had respiratory symptoms, including cough (92%), sputum and/or hemoptysis (92%), and chest pain (46%). Chest radiography and CT showed pleural lesions (62%) and parenchymal lesions (92%). Of note was the high frequency of solitary nodular lesions (62%), mimicking lung cancer, tuberculosis, or fungal diseases. Immunodiagnosis and bronchoscopic examination were also useful for diagnosis. Praziquantel treatment was very effective and had minimal side effects. One patient required surgical decortication for empyema in spite of treatment with praziquantel. Eosinophilia was noted in peripheral blood and body fluids, which was probably due to increased levels of interleukin-5.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that our patients with Paragonimus westermani presented with a wide variety of radiographic findings, which were different from the classic presentations reported earlier. Bronchoscopic examination and serologic tests are very useful for accurate diagnosis. As dietary habits change and international transportation increases, it appears likely that paragonimiasis will also increase in frequency in various parts of the world.

Elevated IL-5 levels in pleural fluid of patients with paragonimiasis westermani

To investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of eosinophilic pleural effusion in patients with paragonimiasis, we measured the levels of IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in pleural effusions. Samples were obtained from 11 patients with Paragonimus westermani infection. In addition, samples from 12 patients with pleural transudates, 16 with tuberculous pleurisy, seven with empyema and 20 with lung cancer were also examined. Eosinophilia was remarkable in peripheral blood (range 4-34%, median 23.4%) and pleural fluid (range 0-95%, median 71%) of paragonimiasis patients. IL-5 concentrations in pleural effusions of paragonimiasis were markedly higher than those in other groups. Although marked elevation of GM-CSF and IFN-gamma levels was observed in pleural effusion of empyema and tuberculosis patients, it was marginal in the pleural effusion of paragonimiasis patients. In paragonimiasis patients, IL-5 levels in the pleural effusion correlated well with the percentage of eosinophils in peripheral blood and pleural fluid. Such a correlation was not observed between GM-CSF levels in pleural effusion and percentages of eosinophils in pleural fluid or peripheral blood. Our findings suggest that in paragonimiasis IL-5 in the local inflammatory site is particularly important in mediating eosinophilia in peripheral blood and pleural effusion.