Chronic schistosomiasis commonly leads to which complication?

Chronic schistosomiasis commonly leads to which complication?

• A. Pulmonary edema
• B. Anemia without organomegaly
• C. Portal hypertension due to hepatosplenic disease
• D. Renal failure due to nephrotic syndrome

Answer: (C)

Chronic schistosomiasis often leads to portal hypertension from hepatosplenic involvement. Eggs deposited in the liver provoke a granulomatous reaction around the portal tracts, progressing to fibrosis of the portal areas (Symmers pipe-stem fibrosis). This increases resistance to portal blood flow before the hepatic sinusoids, causing presinusoidal portal hypertension. The resulting signs include splenomegaly, ascites, and a risk of variceal bleeding—hallmarks of hepatosplenic disease. Pulmonary edema or nephrotic-range renal failure are not typical complications of the chronic hepatosplenic form, and anemia without organomegaly is not the characteristic pattern seen with this chronic hepatic involvement.

Chronic schistosomiasis often leads to portal hypertension from hepatosplenic involvement. Eggs deposited in the liver provoke a granulomatous reaction around the portal tracts, progressing to fibrosis of the portal areas (Symmers pipe-stem fibrosis). This increases resistance to portal blood flow before the hepatic sinusoids, causing presinusoidal portal hypertension. The resulting signs include splenomegaly, ascites, and a risk of variceal bleeding—hallmarks of hepatosplenic disease. Pulmonary edema or nephrotic-range renal failure are not typical complications of the chronic hepatosplenic form, and anemia without organomegaly is not the characteristic pattern seen with this chronic hepatic involvement.