Abstract

DUTRA, Robson Azevedo; DUTRA, Laura Ferreira; REIS, Milene de Oliveira  and  LAMBERT, Raul Coelho. Splenectomy in a patient with treatment-resistant visceral leishmaniasis: a case report. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. [online]. 2012, vol.45, n.1, pp. 130-131. ISSN 0037-8682.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822012000100027.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as Kala-azar, is a systemic infection caused by a protozoan (Leishmania) and, in its classic form, is a serious illness associated with malnutrition, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, infectious processes and coagulopathies. The effect of splenectomy in patients with visceral leishmaniasis is not well defined; however, it is known that the spleen is the largest reservoir of infected cells belonging to the reticulo endothelial system. Therefore, the surgical procedure is an option for the debulking of parasites, providing a cure for refractory VL and minimizing the complications of hypersplenism.

Keywords : Splenectomy; Leishmaniasis; Hypersplenism.