Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain
Shams University, Cairo, Egypt | Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine,
Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract: This study was undertaken to assess the biochemical changes induced
in chronic schistosomiasis and/or chronic HCV, as well as to pinpoint the most
significant parameters which could be used as dependable indices for the
differentiation of single and coupled infections with or without liver
cirrhosis. The selected patients were allocated into 2 broad groups: GrII
(Schistosomiasis) which was subdivided into 3 subgroups: GrII(a) schistosomal
patients with hepatosplenomegaly; GrII(b) hepatosplenic schistosomal patients
with decompensated liver cirrhosis; GrII(c) schistosomal patients with no
organomegaly. GrIII (Combined) comprised 2 subgroups: GrIII(a) schistosomal-HCV
infection with decompensated liver cirrhosis; GrIII(b) schistosomal-HCV
infection without liver cirrhosis. For statistical comparison normal healthy
subjects were taken as a reference group (Gr I). Results showed that
schistosomal patients without organomegaly manifested non significant changes
in all studied parameters compared to normal controls. Highly significant
elevations in serum ALT, AST, ALP and GGT activities were recorded in all other
subgroups but the highest levels are reported in GrIIb. AST/ALT and
direct/indirect bilirubin ratios were highest in GrIIIa (1.17\pm
0.26, 1.54 \pm 0.37, respectively). Serum total
protein and albumin levels showed the highest reduction (33 and 59%)
concomitantly with the highest increase in \gamma-globulin
level (75%) in GrIII(a). Blood total iron was significantly reduced in
GrII(a,b) (15.6 and 12%) (8.8%) bilirubin, GGT and AST in this order are good
discriminators between the different subgroups in GrII. On the other hand, ALT,
AST, albumin, ALP, GGT, protein and direct bilirubin are the most significant
indices to differentiate chronic schistosomiasis and the combined group with/or
without liver cirrhosis.
