McNeely D J, Inouye T, Tam P Y, Ripley S D
J Rheumatol. 1980 Sep-Oct;7(5):745-50.
Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode which infects large numbers of the population of tropical and subtropical geographic zones. Autoinfection permits the parasite to persist in asymptomatic hosts for years after they leave the tropics. Occasionally, in immunosuppressed patients, massive pulmonary or systemic invasion occurs. We report such an event in a corticosteroid treated patient with severe polymyositis. The life cycle of this parasite and the potential for overwhelming infestation are reviewed. As immunosuppressive therapy becomes more routine in rheumatic diseases, the rheumatologist should be aware of this sinister opportunistic pathogen.
粪类圆线虫是一种肠道线虫，感染了大量热带和亚热带地区的人群。自身感染使该寄生虫能够在无症状宿主离开热带地区后数年内在其体内持续存在。偶尔，在免疫抑制患者中会发生大规模的肺部或全身感染。我们报告了一名接受皮质类固醇治疗的重症多发性肌炎患者发生的此类事件。本文回顾了这种寄生虫的生命周期以及发生严重感染的可能性。随着免疫抑制疗法在风湿性疾病中变得越来越常规，风湿病学家应意识到这种危险的机会性病原体。
