Role of some factors in schistosomal hepatic encephalopathy

ABSTRACT

The present work was carried out to evaluate the role of aromatic amino acids [AAAs], branched chain amino acids [BcAAs], ammonia and gamma amino butyric acid [GABA] as well as some trace elements [copper, zinc and manganese] in the development of schistosomal hepatic encephalopathy. This study included 10 patients with schistosomal hepatic encephalopathy and 10 normal healthy adults as controls. Determination of amino acids, GABA and ammonia was done using the Bechmann amino acid autoanalyzer, 119CL. Estimation of trace elements was done using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The findings revealed that the mean serum and CSF aromatic amino acids' [phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan] concentrations were significantly higher in cases than controls. However, there was significantly lower serum and CSF branched chain amino acids [leucine, isoleucine and valine] in cases than controls. It was also found that the mean serum and CSF copper and manganese concentrations were significantly raised while their mean zinc was significantly lower in cases than in controls