Answer 61 - Tropical splenomegaly syndrome
Typical features of tropical splenomegaly syndrome are:
False a. very low or absent malarial antibody titres
True b. increased serum IgM
True c. lymphocytic infiltration of hepatic sinusoids
False d. Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia
True e. favourable response to prolonged anti-malarial drug therapy
This syndrome is also known by the name hyper-reactive malarial syndrome.
It is characterised by massive splenomegaly and its geographic distribution mirrors that of malaria. Malarial antibodies are present in high titres but there is no parasitaemia. The basis of treatment is prolonged antimalarial chemoprophylaxis.
