Rule of schistosomiasis infection in chronic hepatitis C

The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus [HCV] among Egyptians is 10-20%. Schistosomiasis is another hepatotropic infection with a major burden on Egyptian patient population particularly in rural societies. The aim of the present study is to describe and compare the clinical, laboratory, virology, ultrasonographic and histopathological features of HCV patients and HCV patients co-infected with Schistomiasis. is there a relationship between severity of HCV infection and Schistosomiasis. The medical files of 74 HCV patients attending tropical medicine department, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt, were reviewed. The studied patients were classified into two groups: group A: patients with HCV co infected with Schistosomiasis [n = 38]; and group B: patients with HCV only [n = 36]. From the patients' medical files, clinical, laboratory, virology [HCV RNA titer by RT/PCR], abdominal ultrasonographic and histopathological data were extracted, reviewed and analyzed by using statistical analysis software package [SAS]. The results of this study found no significant differences with regard to mean age, sex distribution and clinical presentation between patients in the two studied groups. The majority of HCV patients co infected with Schistosomiasis [79%] was rural residence. Significant differences were observed regarding the hemoglobin percent, total leucocytic count, serum albumin and prothrombin concentration with the lower levels were among patients with Concomitant HCV and Schistosomiasis infection [group A]. In the same group, the higher levels of viremia were also observed. Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis were found to be relatively higher in group A [38%] compared to group B [17%], but with statistically significant difference [p < 0.05]. Patients with concomitant HCV and Schistosomiasis infection were characterized by more advanced liver disease as indicated by cirrhosis and laboratory findings