HEPATIC CAPILLARIASIS - 1ST CASE-REPORT IN THE REPUBLIC-OF-KOREA

We report a case of massive hepatic infection by Capillaria hepatica i n a 14-month-old girl who presented with the symptom triad of persiste nt fever, hepatomegaly, and leukocytosis with eosinophilia. Twenty-fiv e cases of human infection with this parasite, mostly in children, hav e been reported in the literature. This is the first case of hepatic c apillariasis reported in the Republic of Korea. The diagnosis was made by needle biopsy of the liver. Scanning electron microscopic examinat ion of the biopsy specimen was also performed. Thiabendazole therapy w as initiated and the patient developed liver disease-related IgA nephr opathy during the therapy. The literature dealing with proven cases of infection with C. hepatica is briefly reviewed.