Assessment of Visceral Leishmaniasis Consequences Using Ultrasound

Abstract

Background and Aim: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala azar, is a parasitic disease that caused by infection with Leishmania parasites, which are spread by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. An ultrasound examination is strongly advocated for the promote diagnosis and treatment of VL for long term follow up and evaluation of unresponsive cases. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of VL in the liver, spleen and pancreas of affected participants by using ultrasound. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in the period of January 2012 to March 2014 in the ultrasound department of Tropical Disease Hospital (TDH) in Khartoum-Sudan, among a group of 100 participants (84% males, 16% females and their ages ranges from 15 to 45 years) positive to VL and had been diagnosed by laboratory tests; either serological or Napier’s Aldehyde test. The Aloka portable ultrasound machine equipped with 3.5 MHz convex probe was used for abdominal ultrasound scanning. Standard Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the results. Results: The commonest ultrasound findings in VL participants were hepatomegaly (100%), splenomegaly (100%) and ascites (50%). Other complications such as lymphadenopathy (35%), focal splenic lesions (34%), dilated portal vein (7%) and shrinkage liver (4%) were detected. Conclusion: Ultrasound scanning presents an effective role in VL, because of its ability to detect the consequences of this disease in various abdominal organs such as liver, spleen and pancreas earlier, which in turn allowing the possibility to treat these complications and prevents the deterioration of a patient’s health status.