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Oxamniquine versus niridazole for treatment of uncomplicated Schistosoma mansoni infection.

One hundred sixteen male patients with uncomplicated Schistosoma mansoni infection were randomized to treatment with oxamniquine (20 mg/kg a day for 3 days) or niridazole (15 mg/kg a day for 8 days) in an in-hospital study. Fifty-four patients were treated with oxamniquine; no serious drug side effects were noted. Twenty-six percent of children 16 years old and younger were cured, while 85% of adults were cured. Egg reduction was 89%. Sixty-two patients were treated with niridazole; four patients (one child and three adults) had serious side effects which necessitated discontinuing the drug. Seventy-one percent of children and 84% of adults were cured. Egg reduction was 84%. Minor clinical side effects occurred during therapy with both drugs (26% with oxamniquine, 48% with niridazole) but cleared after completion of therapy. Niridazole is the more effective drug for the child with uncomplicated Schistosomiasis mansoni, but oxamniquine is advised for the adult with this disease.

Adolescent↗

Ultrasonographic and serologic abnormalities in Schistosoma japonicum infection in Leyte, the Philippines.

We have identified specific ultrasonographic changes in Schistosoma japonicum-infected patients associated with serologic indicators of general liver function. An ultrasonographic examination concomitant with hematologic and biochemical serum analyses was performed on 102 patients at the Schistosomiasis Hospital in Leyte, The Philippines. The ultrasonographic liver images were classified into four patterns, according to the development of periportal fibrosis and the patterns of echogenic bands. Eleven cases with a long-term infection showed typical septal formation (network pattern). Other ultrasonographic changes in the portal system, such as the severity of splenomegaly, did not correlate with the age of the study patients or the duration of their infection; however, the production of collateral vessels was clear in the group of older patients. Among various hematologic and biochemical serum indicators of liver damage, the serum levels of total bile acid (TBA) and procollagen-III-peptide (P-III-P) strongly correlated with the development of hepatic fibrosis and protal hypertension. These findings suggest that the ultrasonographic liver patterns classified here, along with the changes in serum levels of TBA and P-III-P, provide useful indicators for field monitoring of S. japonicum infection.

Adolescent↗

Improvement of ultrasonographic and serologic changes in Schistosoma japonicum-infected patients after treatment with praziquantel.

We previously reported ultrasonographic and serologic abnormalities in 102 patients infected with Schistosoma japonicum in Leyte, The Philippines. These patients were subsequently treated with praziquantel (3 x 20 mg/kg), and changes in ultrasonographic images and the serum levels of liver function markers in 52 patients were followed up every three months for a period of 17 months. Improvement in the thickening of the portal vein wall and the intensity of echogenic bands was detected six months after treatment with praziquantel. The level of splenomegaly was also reduced in 42 patients who originally did not show the production of collateral vessels. A significant decrease in the serum total bile acid (TBA) level was detected in all patients six months after treatment with praziquantel. However, significant ultrasonographic changes could not be detected in the patients classified as type 3, with severe hepatic fibrosis caused by the long-term infection. These results clearly show that ultrasonographic examination, along with data on the serum TBA level, provides a sensitive tool to monitor the severity of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension caused by S. japonicum infection, as well as the improvement resulting from praziquantel treatment.

Adolescent↗

Health screening of international adoptees. Evaluation of a hospital based clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To report the findings of health screening of 100 international adoptees. DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING AND PATIENTS: The first 100 children to attend the Outpatient Inter-Country Adoption Clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. INTERVENTIONS: A medical history was taken and a thorough physical examination and series of screening investigations were performed on all children. RESULTS: The children ranged in age from two months to 16 years (median, five months; mean, 2.8 years). The countries most represented were Korea, with 36 children, and India, with 21. Thirty children fell below the third Australian centile for both height and weight. Abnormalities on physical examination included hepatosplenomegaly (13 children), scabies (six) and severe dental caries (six). Parasitic infestation of the stools was found in 23 children, a positive Mantoux test result in nine (three had active tuberculosis), anaemia in 12, elevated hepatic transaminase levels in nine and positive hepatitis B surface antigen and e antigen in two. One child had acquired syphilis. Screening for human immunodeficiency virus antibody gave negative results in all children. CONCLUSION: International adoptees constitute a special paediatric subgroup requiring assessment and screening investigations as soon as possible after arrival in their adoptive country.

Adolescent↗

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of hepatobiliary ascariasis.

Eight cases of hepatobiliary invasion of Ascaris lumbricoides into the hepatobiliary tract are presented. In the presence of nonspecific symptoms and biochemical test results, the diagnosis was made in seven patients by sonography. In the remaining patient, in whom the adult roundworm was not visible on sonography owing to the presence of aerobilia, the diagnosis was made at ERCP. Sonography revealed typical tubular, echogenic, filling defects along the long axis of a dilated common bile duct, sometimes exhibiting slow movements and containing a central sonolucent line. Repeated sonographic examinations accurately predicted treatment success.

Adult↗

Chronic Japanese schistosomiasis and hepatocellular carcinoma: ten years of follow-up in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

In a preliminary study carried out in the study area we found that 19.1% (173/907) of patients with chronic liver disease and 51% (35/68) of hepatocellular carcinoma cases were infected with Japanese schistosomiasis. Analysis of data from 571 autopsies revealed a similarly high incidence of schistosomiasis among cases of hepatoma and other liver diseases. A prospective case-control study conducted over 10 years showed that hepatoma developed in 5.4% (26/484) of chronic schistosomiasis cases and in 7.5% (23/307) of patients with chronic liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc). The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.228). A high incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (HCVAb) was found in the schistosomiasis group (36.5%; 95% CI = 44.9-28.1%) and in the chronic liver disease group (56.0%), 39% of whom had chronic hepatitis (P = 0.028). Various factors that might have contributed to the development of hepatoma and schistosomiasis were investigated, but no evidence of a significant correlation between schistosomiasis and hepatoma was found. The high incidence of HCVAb was considered to have been responsible for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic schistosomiasis patients. The role of HBV infection in the development of hepatoma in schistosomiasis patients was not confirmed after an assay for HCVAb was included in the study.

Adult↗

Parasitological, pathological and functional studies on the effects of IFN alpha 2b in murine hepatic schistosomiasis.

The effects of different doses of Interferon alpha 2b (IFN alpha 2b), alone and in combination with praziquantel (PZQ), on hepatic schistosomiasis were tested. An experimental murine model of hepatic schistosomiasis was used. Four parameters were assessed; hepatic fibrosis by estimation of OH-proline content/g dry weight liver, hepatocyte proliferative activity by the PCNA/LI, schistosomal egg load by digesting parts of the liver by KOH and hepatocyte function by measuring parenchymal liver enzyme levels. IFN alpha 2b was found to increase hepatic fibrosis in a dose dependent manner both alone and in combination with PZQ. An augmentation of the regenerative activity of the liver was observed. A reduction in the number of the granulomas and egg counts was observed only when PZQ was added. However, no effect on the size of the granulomas was observed apart from the normal process of modulation. Caution should be exercised when treating patients with concomitant hepatic schistosomiasis and hepatitis with IFN alpha 2b as it increases both hepatocyte regenerative activity and hepatic fibrosis; two main components of cirrhosis.

Animals↗

Long-term follow-up after liver transplantation in Egyptians transplanted abroad.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term outcome after liver transplantation (LT) in Egyptian patients who underwent LT outside Egypt. METHODS: Between May 1993 and February 2004, over 150 Egyptians underwent LT outside Egypt. Data of 67 recipients were collected in Egypt through personal communications with the Overseas Liver Transplant Centers and through the records of the Egyptian Liver Transplant Association. RESULTS: Most patients underwent LT in Europe (73.1%), few in the United State of America (17.9%) and in Japan (9%). Sixty-one patients underwent cadaveric LT and the remaining 6 patients underwent living related liver transplantation (LDLT). The male to female ratio was 58:9. Median age was 45 (3-63 years). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis whether alone or mixed with schistosomiasis was the main indication for LT. Out of those 67 recipients, 52 (77.6%) survived after a median follow-up period of 4.6 years (rang 1-10.5 years). Deaths were due to primary non-function in 3 patients, postoperative bleeding in one patient, recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 10 patients, and chronic rejection in one patient. CONCLUSION: Egyptians underwent LT abroad showed a good long-term outcome. Due to the high prevalence of HCV, we expect a growing need for LT in Egypt. Although LDLT has been introduced recently in Egypt, cadaveric liver donation is still not legalized by the government. Efforts should be directed to expanding LDLT, legalizing cadaveric LT and also to the prevention and control of HCV infection in Egypt in order to avoid its devastating effect on the society as well as its enormous negative impact on Egypt's economy and future development.

Adolescent↗

Hepatic regeneration after hepatectomy in schistosomatic fibrosis.

After partial hepatectomy (approximately 30%), the labelled hepatocyte index (LHI) of the normal mouse is increased and reaches its highest value 48 h after surgery. In mice with schistosomatic fibrosis (SF), the LHI was lower than in the controls at 24, 48 and 72 h after hepatectomy.

Animals↗

Hepatitis-B-associated glomerulonephritis: pathology, pathogenesis, and clinical course.

Hepatitis-B-associated glomerulonephritis (HBGN) is a distinct entity occurring frequently in hepatitis-B-prevalent areas of the world. The disease affects both adults and children who are chronic hepatitis-B-virus (HBV) carriers with or without a history of overt liver disease. The diagnosis is established by serologic evidence of HBV antigens/antibodies, presence of an immune complex glomerulonephritis, immunohistochemical localization of 1 or more HBV antigens, and pertinent clinical history, when available. In this study we present clinicopathologic and follow-up findings in 12 patients (7 children, 5 adults) with hepatitis-B-associated glomerulonephritis. Twelve patients provided 15 renal biopsies and 1 specimen of kidney tissue, obtained at autopsy; these were examined by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical methods. Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) with or without mesangial proliferation was noted in 7 biopsies, mesangiocapillary (membranoproliferative) glomerulonephritis (MCGN) in 5 biopsies, and proliferative glomerulonephritis with or without membranous changes in 2 biopsies. Tubulointerstitial changes were minimal except in 3 adults, in whom they were attributable to arterionephrosclerosis. Ultrastructural findings included the presence of considerable amounts of focal or diffuse granular electron-dense deposits in the glomeruli, in the subepithelial, subendothelial, and mesangial locations, occasionally destroying or replacing the lamina densa of the basement membrane. Variable mesangial proliferation was also observed, with interposition, with focal irregular reduplication of the basement membranes and rare clusters of spherical particles, probably representing viral particles in the deposits. In addition, granular deposits along tubular basement membranes were seen in 1 case. The glomerular deposits stained for 2 or more immunoglobulins, the predominant one being IgG, and variably also for complement components (C3, C4 and C1q). Hepatitis B viral antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg, HBeAg) were demonstrated using acid elution techniques in the deposits in all biopsies where frozen tissue was available, singly or in a variety of combinations and intensities. There were deposits of IgG, C3, C1q, and HBsAg along the tubular basement membranes in 1 case. Follow-up biopsies in 2 cases, 2 and 5 years apart, showed a transformation from a diffuse MGN to MCGN with segmental membranous features. Follow-up biopsy after 3 years in the third patient, who went into clinical remission, revealed partially resolving glomerular lesions. Renal lesions secondary to chronic liver disease, parasitic diseases, certain tropical nephropathies, and lupus nephritis are some of the diseases that may morphologically resemble HBGN. Recognition and differentiation of HBGN from other entities may have significant prognostic and therapeutic implications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗