Clinical features in severe Opisthorchiasis viverrini

Abstract

Clinical features of severe opisthorchiasis were studied in 88 patients. The ratio of males to females was 6.3 : 1; 75% were over 40 years old. The presenting symptoms were obstructive jaundice, 25% associated with secondary infection of the biliary system; cholangitis and cholecystitis; intraabdominal mass, which was enlarged liver; 18% had palpable gallbladder; 18% had adenocarcinoma of the bile duct. High bilirubin was found in 46% of cases, high alkaline phosphatase in 80%, elevation of serum transaminase in 78% and low serum albumin in 62% of patients. There was no correlation between severity of the disease and the faecal egg output. The obstructive jaundice patients had low or no egg output. Two patients had no eggs in stool, but numerous Opisthorchis viverrini eggs and flukes were found in the gallbladder and bile ducts at operation.