Giardiasis in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient

• Published in: Transplant infectious disease Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 984 - 987
• Main Authors: Ajumobi, A.B., Daniels, J.A., Sostre, C.F., Trevino, H.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use; diarrhea; endoscopy; Giardia lamblia; Giardia lamblia - isolation & purification; giardiasis; Giardiasis - complications; Giardiasis - diagnosis; Giardiasis - parasitology; graft-versus-host disease; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Male; Metronidazole - therapeutic use; transplant; endoscopy; transplant; Giardia lamblia; giardiasis; diarrhea; graft-versus-host disease
• ISSN: 1398-2273; 1399-3062
• DOI: 10.1111/tid.12272

Giardiasis can mimic diarrhea secondary to mucosal injury from the conditioning therapy prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), as well as from graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). Herein, we describe the endoscopic diagnosis of giardiasis in a patient 2 months after HSCT for myelodysplastic syndrome. The patient was referred to gastroenterology service for suspected GVHD, but duodenal biopsy results showed Giardia lamblia. He was successfully treated with metronidazole with prompt resolution of all of his gastrointestinal symptoms. This case highlights the need to consider giardiasis in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea in the peri‐transplant period.