Prolonged intrahepatic cholestasis in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and chronic viral hepatitis: role of associated active schistosomiasis

Among 50 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis [SHF] and superimposed chronic viral hepatitis [CVH], prolonged intraheptic cholestasis [IHC] was found in 27 patients. In those patients with IHC, the frequency of active S. mansoni infection and serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] were significantly higher than in patients without jaundice [P<0.05]. After 4 courses of praziquantel [PZQ] therapy, there was a significant improvement in the clinical, biochemical and histopathological evidences of IHC in parallel with cure of active schistosomal infection and a significant decrease in serum TNF alpha levels [P<0.05]. In conclusions active S. mansoni infection with subsequent enhanced immune response is a possible etiological factor for the development of prolonged IHC in patients with SHF and superimposed CVH. Repeated course of PZQ therapy may help in the clearance of jaundice in these patients

HLA and peptic ulcer disease

Twenty patients suffering from peptic ulcer disease whether duodenal or gastric and 300 healthy controls were subjected to HLA [A and B] typing. A significant higher incidence of HLA-A9 antigen was observed both in the whole peptic ulcer disease patients [35%] and in the fourteen duodenal ulcer patients [35.7%] when compared with the control group [9.33%]. The results indicated that peptic ulcer disease has a genetic basis operating with other factors in its pathogenesis

Study of the clinical and ultrasonographic features of the schistosomal liver

Clinical examination of the liver does not reflect the actual liver size which needs ultrasound scanning. The extent of hepatic fibrosis could be estimated by ultrasonography and is correlated with the degree of portal hypertension. There is no correlation between the liver size and any other parameter studied. The portal pressure is not correlated with either the portal vein diameter or splenic vein diameter. The portal vein diameter is significantly correlated with the splenic vein diameter and splenic size. Small amount of ascitic fluid could be detected by ultrasound scanning

Study of some histocompatibility antigens in senescence

The significant association of the alleles of HLA system with certain diseases, raised the question: Whether the distribution of HLA antigens differs between old and young persons or not. This study was conducted on 30 apparently healthy male aged subjects and a control group. HLA-A10 and B5 showed differences of statistical significance after correction of P value, while the difference for HLA-A9, B113 and B14 showed statistical significance only before correction of P value. The HLA-A2, A3 and B8 showed decrease frequency, but with no statistical significance. An increase in the number of detectable antigens occurs as the age increased. Heterozygosity at locus A was present among older individuals than heterozygosity at locus B