ALVEOLAR ECHINOCOCCOSIS OF THE LIVER IN A 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL WITH ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

A 6-year-old girl with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had e xtensive alveolar echinococcosis. Diagnosis was proved by needle biops y of a specimen from affected liver tissue. The case was characterized by the unusually young age of the patient and more specifically by th e absence of any detectable parasite-specific humoral and cellular imm une response at diagnosis or later. Thus the present case indicates th at a marked immunodeficiency caused by AIDS may substantially contribu te to the rapid proliferation and early manifestation of the disease. In patients with pediatric AIDS and living in areas endemic for Echino coccus multilocularis, alveolar echinococcosis should be considered in intrahepatic tumorlike lesions even if the result of immunodiagnostic testing is negative.