Characterization of the clinical features, laboratory findings, and outcomes of human fascioliasis in a global network: a retrospective mutlicenter study.

BACKGROUND

Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, is a neglected tropical disease that has significant medical and veterinary importance. This foodborne zoonotic trematodiases primarily affects poor rural populations in tropical and subtropical areas, where prevalence can be as high as 21%.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to characterize the clinical features, laboratory findings, and outcomes of fascioliasis in a real-world cohort.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

METHODS

Patients ⩾ 18 years old diagnosed with fascioliasis were identified from TriNetX, a global federated research network, on October 26, 2024. We used the International Classification of Diseases results to define fascioliasis (ICD-10 code B66.3) for the period 2021-2024. These data include demographics, diagnoses, comorbidities, procedures, clinical laboratory results, and medications. All variables except outcomes were not time-bound to the diagnosis date.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 174 predominantly middle-aged, female, and Caucasian patients, we found high rates of essential hypertension, neoplasms, heart disease, liver disease, and sleep disorders. Key symptoms included upper abdominal pain, skin complaints, dyspnea, and malaise/fatigue. Some outcomes were hepatomegaly, cholelithiasis, and cholangitis in 10% of patients, with hepatic cirrhosis being rare. Among hospitalized patients within 3 months of diagnosis, 63% experienced abdominal pain. Of the 13 patients who developed cholangitis or cholelithiasis, most were men, had abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, dysphagia, and ascites with a history of liver or intrahepatic bile neoplasia. A total of 90-day mortality was low (less than 6%). Triclabendazole was reported in only 6% of these patients.

CONCLUSION

In a large real-world case series of fascioliasis, we found a high frequency of comorbidities and typical gastrointestinal symptoms. The low use of triclabendazole may be due to limited access to the product in certain countries or its omission from the database if prescribed in the outpatient setting. Mortality was very low, but biliary and liver complications warrant characterization through additional prospective clinical studies.