Study of serum procollagen III peptide changes before and after some antifibrotics in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

ABSTRACT

The antifibrotic effect of colchicine and captopril on schistosomal hepatic fibrosis was evaluated in fifty patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis taking serum procollagen III peptide [PIII NP] as a marker for degree of fibrosis. The duration of study was two months. Serum PIII NP levels was non significantly decreased in patients received 25 mg, captopril twice daily [20 patients] while those received placebo [fifteen patients] showed no change in its levels. Opposite to these findings 0.5mg colchicine twice daily [fifteen patients] led to nonsignificant rise in the level of serum PIII NP. As it is expected that colchicines leads to reduction of serum PIII NP level after a period of therapy for six months at least, this initial rise after two months of therapy [secondary to release of incorporated PIII NP molecules on the surface of collagen in its hydrolysis by colchicines] indicate the start of the therapeutic effects. Beside this antifibrotic effect of captopril and colchicine. it was found that a significant reduction in spleen size had occurred while in those received placebo no change in the size of spleen had occurred. It is concluded that the measurement of serum PIII NP after two months of colchicine therapy may give a clue for continuing [with presence of initial rise of serum PIII NP] of therapy or not