[Colonic involvement in chronic opisthorchiasis].

OBJECTIVE

To provide clinical, functional, and morphological characteristics of colonic involvement in chronic opisthorchiasis and to evaluate the efficiency of dehelmintization.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

96 patients with chronic non-ulcerative colitis, including 56 patients who had chronic opisthorchiasis (Group 1) and 40 patients who had no parasitic diseases (Group 2). The biocenosis of the large bowel, the motor function and morphological status of its distal and proximal parts were evaluated in all the patients. Biopsy specimens were histologically studied.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was an association of impaired colonic motor activity and morphological colonic mucosal changes with the intensity and duration of Opisthorchis invasion. A marked eosinophilic infiltration of the colonic mucosa was noted in all morphological types of chronic non-ulcerative colitis in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis. Effective dehelmintization caused positive functional and morphological changes in the large bowel. All the above facts support the likelihood of parasitic colitis in chronic opisthorchiasis and the expediency of dehelmintization.