Diagnosis of elephantiasis nostras verrucosa as a clinical mani-festation of Kaposi's sarcoma / Diagnóstico de elefantiasis nostras verrucosa como mani-festación clínica del Sarcoma de Kaposi

Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa, a rare manifestation of Kaposi's sarcoma, is a progressive cutaneous hypertrophy caused by chronic non-filarial lymphedema secondary to obstruction of the lymphatic system that can lead to severe disfigurement of parts of the body that have gravity-dependent blood flow, due to edema, fibrosis, and hyperkeratosis, especially lower extremities. Among the various conditions that can induce chronic lymphedema are tumors, trauma, radiotherapy, obesity, hypothyroidism, chronic venous stasis, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Kaposi's sarcoma is a vascular tumor associated with the presence of human gammaherpesvirus 8 that is predominantly cutaneous, locally aggressive, with metastasis, and is associated with the production of factors that favor inflammation, lymphatic obstruction, and lymphedema.

Elephantiasic pretibial myxedema

Grave's disease is an autoimmune disease of thyroid gland and pretibial myxedema occurs in 4% of these patients. We present a 50-year-old man with Grave's disease who was referred with nonpitting, edematous, erythematous plaques on legs and feet that became elephantiasic. Biopsy of skin revealed granular material deposition in dermis with splitting of collagen fibers. This is a rare presentation of pretibial myxedema that presented in this case

The Clinical Epidemiology and Prospects for Control of Lympatic Filariasis in Africa

This paper reviews some of the current opinions in the epidemiology and control of lymphatic filariasis in general and in Africa in particular in view of the current global initiative to eliminate the disease as a public health problem. Despite some gaps in the knowledge of the natural history of the disease; there are sufficient tools available for initiating control activities. The focus of filariasis research should therefore shift towards operational research in the application of these tools

Subcutaneous phycomycosis mimics elephantiasis.

A case of subcutaneous phycomycosis involving the right thigh for 1 year duration which mimic elephantiasis was reported in a 21-year-old military man. An initial diagnosis was that of a subcutaneous tissue lesion attributed to parasitic manifestation but turned out to be that of subcutaneous fungal infection both clinically and histologically. The lesion was successfully treated with cotrimoxazole for a period of one month, and followed up for 4 1/2 months with complete cure.

Microfilaraemia survey in Vientiane, Laos.

During the period June 1977-January 1978 a microfilariaemia survey was conducted for the first time in 27 villages (population: 9,300) of Vientiane province of Laos. A total of 2,339 persons, 1,372 males, 967 females, mostly adults, were blood tested between 2000--2400 hours; one thick smear, approximately 20 c.mm, was collected from each one and stained with 10% Giemsa for 30 minutes; only one positive was detected with microfilaria of W. bancrofti in a 22-year-old male; unusually the sheath was well stained. Two cases of elephantiasis of the left leg in two middle-aged women were also diagnosed during the clinical survey. All the three cases were probably infected in the north-eastern province of Houa Phanh.

Clinical features of timorian filariasis among immigrants to an endemic area in West Flores, Indonesia.

Fifty-nine persons, who immigrated into a Brugia timori endemic area from non-filarial areas on the island of Flores, Indonesia were examined for filariasis after residing in the village for 2 to 10 years. Six persons had B. timori microfilaremia and 31 had filarial disease. The disease seems to affect immigrants from non-filarial areas severely within a relatively short period. Among those residing in the village, for 2 years, the microfilaria rate was 5% and the elephantiasis rate 21%. Selective treatment using 50 mg diethylcarbamazine per Kg body weight was given to all microfilaria (Mf) positive persons. Approximately one year later the Mf-rate by finger stick and Nuclepore filtration was 9% and 18% respectively. There was indirect indications that the Mf-rate might increase with the passage of time. However, the total filarial disease rate remained constant during the one year period. The relationship between these findings and American servicemen exposed to filariasis during World World II is briefly discussed.