Schistosomiasis japonica: Treatment by extracorporeal hemofiltration

Extracorporeal hemofiltration has been demonstrated to be effective for the removal of Schistosoma japonicum adult worms according to the pattern previously observed in the treatment of S. mansoni infection. Three patients with advanced oriental schistosomiasis were operated upon in the Philippines. No worms were recovered from the first patient, but 265 and twenty-three were recovered from the second and third patients, respectively. S. japonicum infections are much more destructive than S. mansoni, and the operation should be performed earlier in the course of the disease.