SCHISTOSOMAL PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN EAST AFRICA

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Five new cases of schistosomal pulmonary hypertension from East Africa are described, 1 from the Kenya coast and 4 from Uganda. Three of those from Uganda were due to Schistosoma mansoni and that from Kenya to S. hematoblum. In one case the causal schistosome is uncertain. The clinical and hemo-dynamic features are discussed and particular attention is paid to clubbing, to the delayed closure of the pulmonary 2nd sound, and to the apparent occurrence of shunts in both directions through pre-capillary vascular communications between the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, and bronchial arteries. The difficulties of diagnosis are stressed. It is shown that cirrhosis of the liver is not necessary for pulmonary arterial hypertension to develop in S. mansoni infestation.