Diagnosing schistosomiasis-induced liver morbidity: implications for global control

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Author(s)
Olveda, David U
Inobaya, Marianette
Olveda, Remigio M
Vinluan, Marilyn L
Ng, Shu-Kay
Weerakoon, Kosala
McManus, Donald P
Ramm, Grant A
Harn, Donald A
Li, Yuesheng
Lam, Alfred K
Guevarra, Jerric R
Ross, Allen G
Year published
2017
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Show full item recordAbstract
Background:
Subclinical morbidity due to schistosomiasis was evaluated in 565 patients, and the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test was assessed for the first time as a potential screening tool for disease.
Methods:
The prevalence and intensity of infection were determined by Kato–Katz thick smear stool examination at baseline and 2 years after curative treatment. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was assessed by ultrasound. Non-invasive serum biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis were also evaluated.
Results:
The baseline human prevalence and infection intensity were found to be moderately high at 34% and 123 eggs per gram, ...
View more >Background: Subclinical morbidity due to schistosomiasis was evaluated in 565 patients, and the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test was assessed for the first time as a potential screening tool for disease. Methods: The prevalence and intensity of infection were determined by Kato–Katz thick smear stool examination at baseline and 2 years after curative treatment. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was assessed by ultrasound. Non-invasive serum biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis were also evaluated. Results: The baseline human prevalence and infection intensity were found to be moderately high at 34% and 123 eggs per gram, respectively. However, hepatic parenchymal fibrosis occurred in 50% of subjects, with grade II fibrosis in 19% and grade III in 6%. The ELF score and higher serum levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and hyaluronic acid (HA) correlated with the grade of liver fibrosis. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrated that praziquantel treatment had a short-term impact on both the prevalence and intensity of infection, but less of an impact on established morbidity. Higher TIMP-1 and HA serum levels, and an ELF cut-off score of 8 were found to be correlated with the grade of liver fibrosis; these values may, therefore, assist physicians in identifying individuals at greater risk of disease.
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View more >Background: Subclinical morbidity due to schistosomiasis was evaluated in 565 patients, and the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test was assessed for the first time as a potential screening tool for disease. Methods: The prevalence and intensity of infection were determined by Kato–Katz thick smear stool examination at baseline and 2 years after curative treatment. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was assessed by ultrasound. Non-invasive serum biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis were also evaluated. Results: The baseline human prevalence and infection intensity were found to be moderately high at 34% and 123 eggs per gram, respectively. However, hepatic parenchymal fibrosis occurred in 50% of subjects, with grade II fibrosis in 19% and grade III in 6%. The ELF score and higher serum levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and hyaluronic acid (HA) correlated with the grade of liver fibrosis. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrated that praziquantel treatment had a short-term impact on both the prevalence and intensity of infection, but less of an impact on established morbidity. Higher TIMP-1 and HA serum levels, and an ELF cut-off score of 8 were found to be correlated with the grade of liver fibrosis; these values may, therefore, assist physicians in identifying individuals at greater risk of disease.
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Journal Title
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Subject
Microbiology
Medical microbiology
Medical microbiology not elsewhere classified
Health services and systems
Public health