Cystic Echinococcosis in a Single Tertiary Care Center in Rome, Italy

Linda Petrone,Delia Goletti,Lidia Colace,Leopoldo Pucillo,Gilda Cuzzi,Edoardo Pozio,Antonella Teggi,Claudio Angeletti,Stefania Pane,Elisa Busi-Rizzi,Vincenzo Schininà,Enrico Girardi,Antonino Di Caro,Angela Corpolongo,Eugenio Bordi,Giuseppe Maria Ettorre,Enrico Brunetti

doi:10.1155/2013/978146

Abstract

Background. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic, clinically complex, and neglected disease. Its prevalence in Italy, a country of medium to high endemicity, remains poorly defined, as notification has long ceased to be mandatory. Methods. We set up a retrospective cohort study involving all CE patients followed at our institute between January 2005 and December 2012. Demographical and clinical features were recorded and analyzed. Results. CE was found in 28 patients (64.3%), mostly Italians from the central regions (50%), followed by subjects from the islands (33.3%) and Southern Italy (16.7%). Their median age was 45 years (IQR: 38.5–66.5), with Eastern Europeans being significantly younger (28 years, IQR: 19–39) than other patients (P ≤ 0.0001). A total of 149 cysts, mostly with hepatic localization (96%), were described. Based on the WHO classification, the cysts were mainly small (80.5%) and active (CE1 (73.8%); CE2 (7.4%)). Active cysts were more common in Eastern Europeans (85.7%) than Italians (66.7%). Conclusion. Our data confirm CE occurrence in Italy. We emphasize the importance to have a national CE registry, opportunely recently introduced. This is essential to assess CE prevalence in this country, implement appropriate control measures, and improve patient management.

Highlights

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus whose adults and eggs are found in the small intestine of carnivores.CE is a neglected disease causing substantial morbidity and mortality in endemic areas [1, 2]
We reviewed the data from CE patients who were followed at INMI between January 2005 and December 2012
We reviewed the data from 28 patients (18 inpatients with CE as a “discharge diagnosis” and 10 outpatients identified by the radiologists and clinicians as having CE) who were followed at INMI

Summary

Introduction

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus whose adults and eggs are found in the small intestine of carnivores.CE is a neglected disease causing substantial morbidity and mortality in endemic areas [1, 2]. CE was found in 28 patients (64.3%), mostly Italians from the central regions (50%), followed by subjects from the islands (33.3%) and Southern Italy (16.7%). Their median age was 45 years (IQR: 38.5–66.5), with Eastern Europeans being significantly younger (28 years, IQR: 19–39) than other patients (P ≤ 0.0001). We emphasize the importance to have a national CE registry, opportunely recently introduced This is essential to assess CE prevalence in this country, implement appropriate control measures, and improve patient management

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion