effect of bilharzial portal hypertension on cytochemical and immunological status in portal and systemic blood

ABSTRACT

This work included 24 male patients with bilharzial portal hypertension admitted to Al-Hussein University Hospital during the period from 1989 to 1992 for elective splenectomy and devascularization, and a control group of 8 healthy age matched males. Statistical analysis showed that the neutrophils were more active in portal blood than in systemic blood of patients most probably to enhance the defense mechanisms against gut organisms and their endotoxins. This difference was not found between systemic and portal blood of controls. Also, study of immunoglobulins showed a significantly elevated immunoglobulins A in portal blood in comparison with that in systemic blood which may be in response to bowel organisms