Clinical immunology
Intestinal parasite from stool examination in the patients with nephrotic syndrome undergoing renal biopsy: a summary from 345 cases

Nephrotic syndrome is classified as a disease with immune impairment. Some infections are indicated for its significant correlation to nephrotic syndrome. Concerning the intestinal infection in nephrotic syndrome, report on this area is lack. In this work, the author analyzed the prevalence and pattern of intestinal parasite from stool examination in 345 Thai patients with nephrotic syndrome undergoing renal biopsy. According to our study, 65 (18.8%) of the 345 subjects presented positive results for stool parasite. Of interest, non-opportunistic intestinal parasites such as hookworms, Opisthorchis viverrini, Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia and Taenia saginata can also be seen in this study. This can state the importance of the common intestinal worm infection in Thailand, which is a tropical country. It may be concluded that in Thai nephrotic syndrome patients, both opportunistic and non-opportunistic intestinal parasite infections are still highly prevalent. In the management of nephrotic syndrome patients, stool examination is still a useful investigation.