ABSTRACT
Schistosomiasis leads to presinusoidal hepatic fibrosis which determines the prognosis of the disease and has variable sequences on the portal haemodynamics. In order to evaluate the relation between the degree of hepatic fibrosis, portal hypertension and splenic volume by means of ultrasound and Duplex Doppler, 35 schistosomal patients [25 males and 10 females with a mean age of 37 years] showing various degrees of periportal fibrosis were studied. The grade of periportal fibrosis, portal blood flow, portal vein diameter and splenic volume were determined by means of ultrasound and Duplex Doppler. The portal vein diameter showed a mean of 10.8 mm, portal blood flow showed a mean of 877 cm 3 and the splenic volume had a mean of 149 cc. There was a positive significant linear correlation between the portal vein diameter and the grade of fibrosis the portal blood flow and the grade of fibrosis and the splenic volume and the grade of fibrosis. In conclusion, hepatic periportal fibrosis affects the portal haemodynamics. It correlates positively with the portal blood flow and the splenic volume. Furthermore ultrasound and Duplex Doppler are simple, non invasive techniques for evaluation of haemodynamic changes in schistosomal periportal fibrosis