Comparative study of plasma lipid pattern in schistosomiasis patients and patients with essential hypertension

ABSTRACT

20 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, 20 patients with essential hypertension as well as 20 healthy control subjects were investigated. Their plasma lipid pattern including total lipids, total cholesterol, cholesterol ester, high density lipoprotein [HDL] and low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids [NEFA] were determined as well as apo A and apo B. In the schistosomal group, the level of serum total lipids, total and ester cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apo A and apo B were significantly lower when compared to both controls and hypertensive group. NEFA level was lower while HDL cholesterol was higher than the corresponding hypertensive group values. It could be concluded that the schistosomal group of patients was provided with many factors that diminish the possibility of atherosclerotic changes among them