Clinical masks of pleuropulmonary dirofilariasis, a rare clinical presentation of dirofilariasis in Russia: a report of four cases and literature review

Abstract

There arc described four cases of infection of the lungs and pleura with Dirofilaria in patients infected in the Moscow region and Moscow, with clinical manifestations of recurrent exudative pleurisy, tumor-like formations in the pleura and the lungs. Non-specific clinical symptoms and clinical simulation of common known diseases render difficult the clinical and instrumental diagnosis of pleuropulmonary dirofilariasis. Currently, the best method of diagnosis and treatment of heartworm lungs and pleura is Videothoracoscopy. There are analyzed factors that contribute to the pleuropulmonary infection with Dirofilaria. There is mentioned the possibility of strain differences between Dirofilaria repens, distributed in various regions of Russia and abroad, and there are discussed the problems of treatment.