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Vol. 44. Issue 8.
Pages 451-453 (January 2008)
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Vol. 44. Issue 8.
Pages 451-453 (January 2008)
Case Reports
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Strongyloides stercoralis as an Unusual Cause of COPD Exacerbation
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María del Mar Ortiz Romeroa,
Corresponding author
mmar.ortiz2@carm.es

Correspondence: Dr M.M. Ortiz Romero Sección de Microbiología, Hospital General Reina Sofía Avda. Intendente Jorge Palacios, 1 30003 Murcia, Spain
, María Dolores León Martínezb, María de los Ángeles Muñoz Pérezb, Antonio Altuna Cuestaa, Alfredo Cano Sánchezb, José Hernández Martínezc
a Sección de Microbiología, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain
b Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain
c Sección de Neumología, Hospital General Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain
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The nematode of the genus Strongyloides can persist in the body for long periods with asymptomatic eosinophilia as its only manifestation. If patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are also infected by this organism, altered cellular immunity or therapy with corticosteroids, which are commonly used to treat COPD exacerbations, could lead to hyperinfection and dissemination of the larvae from the gastrointestinal tract to the bloodstream. Thus, the unexpected presence of enteric bacteria in the context of a nonsevere COPD exacerbation with unexplained chronic eosinophilia should lead us to search for rhabditiform larvae in stool.

Key words:
Strongyloides stercoralis
COPD
Enteric bacteria
Exacerbation

Strongyloides es un nematodo que puede persistir en el organismo durante largos períodos y tener como única manifestación eosinofilia asintomática. La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) puede ser una afección asociada a esta infección. La presencia de una alteración en la inmunidad celular o el uso de esteroides, frecuentes en el tratamiento de la exacerbación de la EPOC, podría provocar una hiperinfección de la larva, arrastrando en su paso al torrente sanguíneo bacterias entéricas. Así pues, la presencia no esperada de bacterias entéricas en la exacerbación de un caso de EPOC no grave con eosinofilia crónica sin filiar debería orientarnos a la búsqueda activa de larvas rabditiformes en las heces.

Palabras clave:
Strongyloides stercoralis
EPOC
Bacterias entéricas
Exacerbación
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