Interleukin [IL]-12, IL-5 and total IgE in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with or without asthma

There are a number of similarities between protective immune responses against schistosomiasis and asthma. Both are associated with elevated concentrations of IgE and eosinophilia. Chronic schistosomiasis is liked to Th1 like response with involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in schistosomal hepatosplenic disease process resulting in low level of IL-S. Meanwhile, association with asthma could modulate the immune response with shift to Th2 side resulting in marked elevation of IL-5 and eosinophilia. This work evaluated the levels of serum IgE, IL-5 and IL-12 in Schistosoma mansoni-infected asthmatic patients. A total of 100 subjects selected from Al-Azhar University's Hospitals were divided into three groups GI: 50 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis associated with asthma. GII: 25 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis without apparent asthma. GIII: 25 patients with neither bilharzial liver cirrhosis nor asthma as control group. All patients were subjected to full history taking and clinical examination, pulmonary function tests, total serum IgE, bilharzial antibody titre, stool and urine examination for parasites, liver function tests and serum IL-5 and IL-12. The results showed very high level of the total serum IgE in GI and GII compared to GIII. There was high significant difference in peripheral blood eosinophil%. GI and GII gave highest levels, IL-5 was elevated in GI, but low GII, IL-12 was high in GII than GI

Plasma level of tissue factor pathway inhibitor in children with chronic liver disease

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor [TFPI] is one of physiological coagulation inhibitors, which when decreased may facilitate coagulation especially in advanced liver disease. The aim of this study is to measure the Plasma level of [TFPI] in patients with chronic liver disease [CLD] of various etiologies and correlate this with other parameters routinely used to assess these patients. We measured Plasma level of [TFPI] in 50patients with [CLD] using a specific ELIZA test along with 10 matched healthy controls. The children were classified into 6 groups, group [I] control group:n=10, group [II] those with chronic HBV and HCV viral infection ; n=17, group [III] a metabolic one ; n=9, group [IV] those with autoimmune hepatitis ; n=10, group [V] patients with biliary disorders ; n = 9 and group [VI] hepatovascular group ; n = 5. All children were also subjected to clinical exam,. Liver function tests, PT and conc, PTT, Plasma level of protein C and factor V, serum fibrinogen, HBSAg, anti HBc total and IgM, anti HCV, HCV-RNA for anti HCV +/- ve patients, ultrasound and liver biopsy was done for 36 patients. The result showed that TFPI was decreased in different types of CLD irrespective to the etiology compared to control group group [I]: 83.2 +/- 18.50ng/mL, group[II]30.9 +/- 20.2 ng/mL, group[III]: 57.5 +/- 21.5 ng/mL, group [IV]: 58 +/- 24.5 ng/mL, group [V]: 35.9 +/- 16.9 ng/mL and group[VI]: 71.2 +/- 47.1 ng/mL. The results gave a statistically sig. value in all groups except group [VI]. There was no sig. difference between cirrhotics and non cirrhotics regarding TFPI Plasma level, [non cirrhotics: 41.2 +/- 23.1 ng/mL ; n=18, cirrohtics: 54.5 +/- 33.2 ng/mL; n =32 The study also showed a sig. decrease of TFPI with disease progression child A cirrohtics: 73.8 +/- 36.46 ng/mL ; n = 7, child B: 52.7 +/- 14.6 ng/mL; n = 4, child C: 36.2 +/- 29.33 ng/mL; n = 7. There was no sig, correlation between TFPI plasma level and AST, ALT . ALP, GGT, protein C and factor V but a sig. one was found with serum fibrinogen and PTT