Endoscopic and histopathological study on the duodenum of Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection

AIM: To investigate endoscopic and histopathological findings in the duodenum of patients with Strongyloides stercoralis (5. stercoralis) hyperinfection.METHODS: Over a period of 23 years (1984-2006), we investigated 25 patients with 5. stercoralis hyperinfection who had had an esophagogastroduodenoscopy before undergoing treatment for strongyloidiasis. The clinical and endoscopic findings were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: Twenty-four (96%) of the patients investigated were under immunocompromised condition which was mainly due to a human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. The abnormal endoscopic findings, mainly edematous mucosa, white villi and erythematous mucosa, were observed in 23 (92%) patients. The degree of duodenitis including villous atrophy/destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration corresponded to the severity of the endoscopic findings. The histopathologic yield for identifying larvae was 71.4% by duodenal biopsy. The endoscopic findings of duodenitis were more severe in patients whose biopsies were positive for larvae than those whose biopsies were negative (Endoscopic severity score: 4.86 ± 2.47 vs 2.71 ± 1.38, P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Our study clearly demonstrates that, in addition to stool analysis, endoscopic observation and biopsies are very important. We also emphasize that 5. stercoralis and HTLV-1 infections should be ruled out before immunosuppressive therapy is administered in endemic regions.