Effect of splenectomy on some immunoglobulin levels in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and splenomegaly in children and adults

ABSTRACT

A study of the effect of splenectomy on serum immunoglobulin levels was done on 40 patients [20 children and 20 adults] suffering from bilharzial hepatic fibrosis and splenomegaly with or without esophageal varices, using the Tripartigen immunodiffusion plates. Estimation of serum immunoglobulins were also done to 24 apparently healthy subjects [12 children and 12 adults] to serve as controls. The estimation of serum immunoglobulins concentrations [IgG, IgM, and IgA] were done before and one month after splenectomy, as well as in the splenic artery and vein blood at the time of operation. The immunoglobulins [IgG, IgM, and IgA] showed significant increase in the patients as compared with the healthy controls. One month after splenectomy, significant reduction in serum concentrations of IgM both in children and adults was noticed. The results evidently showed that the spleen has a definite significant role in derangement of immune system in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, and splenectomy significantly reduced the serum immunoglobulin level in these patients. Since the degree of liver affection is in a direct relation with the level of immunoglobulin in the blood, thus subsequent immunological reactions within the liver were reduced by splenectomy, and hence reduce the subsequent increase in the liver fibrosis