RESUMO
Circulating autoantibodies were estimated in sera of ten normal persons and 54 schistosomal patients classified into three groups: Group I [20 patients with early S. mansoni infection], group II [20 patients with post-schistosomal hepatic fibrosis] and group III [14 patients with post-schistosomal glomerulonephritis]. A significant high levels of autoantibodies [antinuclear-antismooth muscle and antimitochondria antibodies] were noticed in groups II and III. Anti DNA antibodies were significantly higher in group III than in the other two groups. It was interesting to notice absence of rheumatoid factor in patients with schistosomal glomerulonephritis which may suggest that RF production may have a protective mechanism in patients with schistosomiasis against development of renal diseases