Evaluation of zinc status as a liver function test in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

ABSTRACT

The association between schistosomiasis and Zinc [Zn] deficiency had been attributed to many causes including malabsorption, hepatic malfunction or reduction in its binding proteins [albumin and a[2] rnacroglobulins]. The present work aimed at the study of the relation between zinc status and the functional reserve capacity of the liver in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. For this purpose the study included 60 subjects; 15 healthy persons as a control group and 45 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis divided into three equal groups [A, B and C] according to the severity of their liver affection using modified child's classification. It was found that zinc levels in plasma, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and erythrocytes are significantly low in all Schistosomal patients as compared to the control group and usually the more severe the dysfunction is, the more the Zn deficiency. This indicates Zn depletion in both extra and intracellular compartments can be mainly explained by the defective synthesis of plasma proteins by the liver, mainly albumin and a2 macroglobulins that act as carriers of Plasma Zn. However, the hyperzincuria found in these patients may share in the chronic Zn deficiency and it is mostly due to increased diffusible fraction of Zn as a result of hypoalbuminemia