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Background: Patients with hepatic schistosomiasis are at high risk of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, which is highly torrential and life threatening. This study aimed to assess the effects of splenectomy on patients with schistosomiasis-induced variceal bleeding, especially those influences related to overall survival (OS) rate., Methods: From January 2005 to December 2018, 112 patients with schistosomiasis-induced varices were enrolled. In that period, all the patients with hepatic schistosomiasis who received endoscopic treatment for primary and secondary prophylaxis of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding were found eligible. The patients were divided into splenectomized group (n = 44, 39.3%) and control group (n = 68, 60.7%)., Results: Multivariate regression analysis of OS showed that splenectomy, hepatic carcinoma, and times of endoscopic treatment were independent prognostic factors for OS. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the 5-year OS rate was 82.7% in splenectomized group versus 53.2% in control group (P = 0.037). The rate of no recurrence of variceal bleeding during 5-year (56.8% vs. 47.7%, P = 0.449) indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups. Patients who received splenectomy had increased risk of portal vein thrombosis (52.3% vs. 29.4%, P = 0.012) and decreased proportion of severe ascites (20.5% vs 50.0%, P = 0.002)., Conclusion: Splenectomy prior to endoscopic treatment provides a superior long-term survival for patients with schistosomiasis-induced variceal bleeding.

This is a case report of a 24-year-old Ethiopian woman with a medical history of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. She suffers from chronic liver failure and portal hypertension. She has been hospitalised for 'hysteria' in the past but did not receive follow-up, outpatient treatment or psychiatric evaluation. After discontinuing her medications and leaving her family to use holy water, a religious medicine used by many Ethiopians, she was found at a nearby monastery. She was non-communicative and difficult to arouse. The patient was rushed to nearby University of Gondar Hospital where she received treatment for hepatic encephalopathy and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Her illness is the result of neglected tropical disease, reliance on traditional medicine as opposed to biomedical services and the poor state of psychiatric care in the developing world., (2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Hepatic schistosomiasis is a well recognized cause of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. Herein, we describe a case of a 62-year-old Kuwaiti man who underwent liver transplantation for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and, as an incidental finding in the histopathology of the explanted liver, eggs consistent with Schistosoma were found. In endemic regions, hepatic schistosomiasis is often observed as an incidental finding in explanted livers of patients who receive liver transplantation for other indications. In the context of this case, we provide a brief review of the management of schistosomiasis in transplant recipients., (© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Liver biopsy is the gold-standard method to stage fibrosis; however, it is an invasive procedure and is potentially dangerous. The main objective of this study was to evaluate biological markers, such as cytokines IL-13, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta, platelets, bilirubins (Bil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total proteins, gamma-glutamil transferase (gamma-GT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP), that could be used to predict the severity of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis and hepatitis C (HC) as isolated diseases or co-infections. The following patient groups were selected: HC (n = 39), HC/hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS) (n = 19), HSS (n = 22) and a control group (n = 13). ANOVA and ROC curves were used for statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant. With HC patients we showed that TNF-alpha (p = 0.020) and AP (p = 0.005) could differentiate mild and severe fibrosis. With regard to necroinflammatory activity, AST (p = 0.002), gamma-GT (p = 0.034) and AP (p = 0.001) were the best markers to differentiate mild and severe activity. In HC + HSS patients, total Bil (p = 0.008) was capable of differentiating between mild and severe fibrosis. In conclusion, our study was able to suggest biological markers that are non-invasive candidates to evaluate fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in HC and HC + HSS.

Case Report: We report the unusual case of an African patient who underwent a liver biopsy for a chronic HBV-related hepatitis, whose histological sample also unexpectedly revealed elements diagnostic for schistosomiasis. The patient was only mildly symptomatic for the Schistosoma infestation; stool examination confirmed the presence of parasitic eggs. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-schistosomiasis co-infection is particularly rare in Western countries. Only the identification of some pathological elements atypical for HBV infection by means of step sections in the liver biopsy sample allowed us to disclose the unsuspected diagnosis., Conclusions: Since migratory flows have increased, the number of foreign people being referred to our hospitals has increased. Patients coming from areas endemic for infectious diseases that are absent in Western countries must be carefully evaluated, taking into account possible unexpected co-infections, including in the setting of pathological studies of liver biopsies.

Schistosomiasis mekongi was shown to be endemic, along the Mekong River, in northern Cambodia, affecting many patients with portal hypertension. Surgical procedures were proposed to some patients with digestive haemorrhage history to avoid fatal recurrence. The aim of our study was to evaluate the intensity of the liver fibrosis among these patients. During surgical treatment, liver biopsies were collected, fixed in Bouin or in formalin and processed at the Institut Pasteur of Cambodia. Sections were stained by H&E, Masson's trichrome, PAS, Ziehl-Neelsen's method and Congo Red. A total of six biopsies from patients aged 16-36 were analysed. There was complete disorganization of hepatic architecture with fibrous enlargement of portal tracts and some portal-portal bridging fibrosis, but there was no cirrhosis. In portal areas, there was blood vessel congestion and thrombosis with inflammation. Bile ducts were normal. In the parenchyma, congestion of sinusoidal capillaries was combined with focal mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. There was no steatosis, no necrosis, no cholestasis, no iron accumulation and no amyloidosis. Numerous eggs of Schistosoma mekongi were observed in five cases, mostly in fibrous areas and more rarely in the parenchyma. Eggs were round or oval, measuring 60 x 40 microns with an acid-fast thin hyaline wall. Some eggs were surrounded by epithelioid and giant cell reaction. In conclusion, our findings illustrated a surprisingly high degree of fibrosis among young adults which contrasts with other schistosomiasis.

In spite of a decrease of the prevalence of hepato-splenic schistosomiasis thanks to mass-treatment with Praziquentel from December 1994 till now (CNM - MSF - WHO - Health Provincial Director) of target-populations in Kratie Province, severe cases of portal hypertension are not exceptional (digestive bleedings, after rupture of oesophageal varices). Out of 106 cases of portal hypertension: alI patients have had clinical survey biological tests (liver function, haematology and serology). Most of them had ultrasonography (Aloka 55,500 Sound 3.5 MHz). Nearly half of the group of 153 patients has never had bleedings. More than 45 were not eligible for surgery for different reasons: severe anaemia (few possibilities for massive transfusion in Cambodia), serology (S. mekongi) + but also hepatitis B or C +, hepatic biological exams (hepatic insufficiency). So we decided for eleven of them to use a surgical decompression procedure in order to decrease portal hypertension and the porto-systemic gradient. After defining portal hypertension, specific clinical features of portal hypertension (secondary to Schistosomiasis) the authors report eleven cases who were operated on (2000-2002): 4 mesenterico-cave shunt with interposition of a graft (Drapanas' procedure), 1 operation of HASSAB (after splenectomy), 6 proximal spleno-renal diversion (after splenectomy). After studying the results of the eleven patients, discussion with other surgical procedures, particularly endoscopic procedures is developed. The follow-up of these patients during at least five years is mandatory to give guidelines for post-systemic shunts to prevent rebleeding (near other methods). Treated too late, schistosomiasis has no benefit from drugs (Praziquentel). After a mean period of forty two months, the following results are: mortality: one case (10 days after operation): hepatic insufficiency (group Child B/C). morbidity: one occlusion of the small intestine, after 4 months (debridment), operated at the Provincial hospital of Kratie (case no1). Ten patients resume work, family and social life between Kratie and Sambor in 2002. No rebleeding. No encephalopathy.

In Egypt, schistosomiasis was traditionally the most important public health problem and infection with Schistosoma mansoni the major cause of liver disease. From the 1950s until the 1980s, the Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOH) undertook large control campaigns using intravenous tartar emetic, the standard treatment for schistosomiasis, as community-wide therapy. This commendable effort to control a major health problem unfortunately established a very large reservoir of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the country. By the mid-1980s, the effective oral drug, praziquantel, replaced tartar emetic a s treatment f o r schistosomiasis in the entire country. This both reduced schistosomal transmission and disease and interrupted the "occult" HCV epidemic. It was evident when diagnostic serology became available in the 1990s that HCV had replaced schistosomiasis as the predominant cause of chronic liver disease. Epidemiological studies reported a high prevalence and incidence of HCV, particutarly within families in rural areas endemic for schistosomiasis. Clinical studies showed 70% to 90% of patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma had HCV infections. Co-infections with schistosomiasis caused more severe liver disease than infection with HCV alone. Schistosomiasis was reported to cause an imbalance in HCV-specific T-cell responses leading to increased viral load, a higher probability of HCV chronicity, and more rapid progression of complications in co-infected persons. As complications of HCV usually occur after 20 years of infection, the peak impact of the Egyptian outbreak has not yet occurred. Efforts have been initiated by the Egyptian MOH to prevent new infections and complications of HCV in the estimated 6 million infected persons.

Enhanced neutrophil apoptosis has been reported in neutropenic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. The shortening of neutrophil survival via apoptosis may explain the neutropenia that occur in these patients. However, the regulation of neutrophil apoptosis in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis has not been clearly defined. Neutrophils harvested from neutropenic patients with hepatosplenic (HS) schistosomiasis, (n=25), non-neutropenic patients with hepatointestinal (HI) schistosomiasis (n=10), and age-/gender-matched healthy control subjects (n=10) were incubated with autologous serum. Neutrophils apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry through determination of propidium iodide nuclear staining and confirmed by DNA gel electrophoresis at 0 (i.e. fresh neutrophils), 4 and 24 h culture. Neutrophils from healthy subjects were also incubated with either 10% heterologous normal or neutropenic serum, with and without anti-Fas ligand antibody. Fas expression was assessed in fresh neutrophils using flow cytometry. Compared with normal healthy neutrophils, and HI neutrophils, neutropenic neutrophils demonstrated greater apoptosis in the presence of autologous serum (P<0.01, 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, compared with normal neutrophils exposed to heterologous normal serum, those exposed to heterologous neutropenic serum exhibited higher apoptosis rates ( P<0.01). Moreover, anti-Fas L antibody attenuated the neutropenic serum-induced neutrophil apoptosis in normal neutrophils. Fas expression was significantly higher in the neutropenic group when compared to both HI and normal healthy controls (P<0.05). In addition, Fas expression by neutrophils was paralleled by high neutrophil apoptosis. On the other hand, neutrophil apoptosis was not correlated to the size of spleen in neutropenic group. In conclusion, the rate of neutrophil apoptosis is accelerated in patients with neutropenic hepatosplenic schistosomiasisis. These findings suggest that the enhanced neutrophil apoptosis that occurs in neutropenic HS patients is triggered by a serum factor, which is mostly a Fas ligand.

Background and Study Aims: Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a common finding in chronic liver disease, but it has not been evaluated in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, a significant cause of noncirrhotic portal hypertension worldwide. Our study was aimed at comparing cirrhosis with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with regard to the endoscopic and histological findings of PHG., Patients and Methods: We included 43 patients with a history of upper digestive hemorrhage, 22 with cirrhosis and 21 with schistosomiasis, without previous surgical or endoscopic treatment. Upper digestive endoscopies with macrobiopsies of the gastric body were prospectively performed in all cases., Results: The endoscopic signs of PHG were more prevalent in cirrhosis than schistosomiasis (81.8 % vs. 33.3 %; P < 0.05), and the mosaic pattern was the main finding. Histological abnormalities were evenly distributed., Conclusions: In agreement with other investigations, this study shows a lower prevalence of endoscopic findings of portal hypertensive gastropathy in noncirrhotic diseases. This difference cannot be explained by the underlying microscopic alterations, which were similar in both groups, suggesting that other factors must play a role in its pathogenesis.

Background: To study the association, clinical significance, and impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection in patients with schistosomal liver disease (SLD)., Methods: A total of 240 patients with chronic liver diseases encountered consecutively were enrolled in the study. Fifty volunteer blood donors were enrolled as controls. HCV antibody determination (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), qualitative and quantitative HCV RNA assay (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), and HCV genotyping (line probe assay) were performed., Results: Twenty-eight patients had SLD alone, 60 had both SLD and chronic hepatitis C (CH-C), 120 had CH-C alone, and 32 had other liver diseases. The positivity rates for HCV antibody (76% vs 20%; P < 0.001) and HCV RNA (59% vs 10%; P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the patients with SLD (n = 88) than in the volunteer blood donors (n = 50). Complications of liver cirrhosis were more common in patients with concomitant SLD and CH-C than in those with either SLD or CH-C alone. The mean levels of alanine aminotransferase (77 +/- 42 vs 93 +/- 55 IU/l; P = 0.049) and HCV RNA concentrations (3.5 +/- 1.0 vs 4.2 +/- 1.0 log copy/ml; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with concomitant SLD and CH-C than in those with CH-C alone. HCV genotype 4 predominated in both these groups (93% and 98%)., Conclusions: SLD in Egypt is significantly associated with HCV infection, with the predominance of genotype 4. Concurrent HCV infection and SLD result in much more severe liver disease than that seen with either disease alone. However, the activity of HCV infection seems to be partially suppressed in patients with SLD.

This study was carried out on forty cases, classified into 3 groups; group I: 10 healthy controls subjects, group II: 20 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and group III: 10 bilharzial patients who underwent total splenectomy. All cases were subjected to clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, rectal snips and laboratory investigations which included: stool and urine analysis, complete blood picture, IHAT for bilharziasis, liver function tests, viral markers, estimaton of T-lymphocyte subpopulations (CD(+)3, CD(+)4, & CD(+)8) by flow Cytometry, silver stained blood films to detect argyrophilic inclusions and 99mTc sulphur colloid splenic scan which was applied to group II only. The present results revealed varying degrees of hypersplenism (anaemia, leukopenia & thrombocytopenia) in GII. Seventy percent of this group was positive for HbsAg, HCV or both in association with schistosomiasis. Abnormal red blood cells (acanthocytes, target cells, pitted cells & normoblasts) and inclusion bodies (Howell Jolly bodies, argyrophilic inclusions & pappenhiemer bodies) were detected with different values in GIII. CD(+)4 cells were moderately reduced in GII while they were markedly decreased in GIII. CD(+)8 cells were elevated in GII and returned nearly to the normal values in GIII with decrease in number of total T-lymphocytes. Most patients of GII showed marked squestration of 99mTc labelled R.B.Cs. in the spleen with reversed hepatic/splenic ratio (normally hepatic/splenic ratio is over two). IHAT showed positivity in 90% of patients in GII while it was 50% in GIII. Although total splenectomy improved the haematological pattern and the cytopenias, which are prominent features in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, yet the immunological profile was still altered. So, it is recommended to perform segmental splenectomy with retention of a normal mass of functioning residual spleen to preserve more immunological function and to protect against life-threatening occurrence of post-splenectomy sepsis.

Ultrasonography is now widely used in the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic Schistosoma mansoni infections. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the use of ultrasonography in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS) with and without cirrhosis. Ninety-seven patients (52 males; median age 38 years, range 19-68 years) with HSS, 65 with well compensated (HSSC) and 32 with decompensated (HSSD) disease and cirrhosis, were systematically examined by ultrasound. Hepatic fibrosis was graded according to WHO recommendations. Typical atrophy of the right hepatic lobe accompanied by hypertrophy of the left lobe, with a rounded inferior marginal edge, was seen in 86 (88.7%) patients. Periportal fibrosis was observed in 83 (85.6%) cases and confirmed histologically in all. In 66 patients (68.0%) thickening of the gallbladder wall, associated with periportal fibrosis and extending from the branches of the porta hepatis, was noted. No evidence of biliary disease was found in these patients and gallstones were present in only 3 cases. Fourteen (43.8%) of the HSSD patients could not be classified for grade of fibrosis because of the advanced stage of cirrhosis related to hepatitis B or C viral infection. Of the remaining 18 HSSD patients, none had only grade I fibrosis (vs. 10.8% of HSSC, P = 0.054) and only 6 had grade II (vs. 67.7% of HSSC, P < 0.0005), while the frequency of grade III was significantly higher in the HSSD patients than in those with HSSC (37.5% vs. 21.5%, P = 0.049). These findings indicate that although ultrasonography is a very valid technique for assessing patients with pure HSS, and should be considered the 'gold standard', it is not reliable for assessing periportal fibrosis in patients with concomitant cirrhosis due to other causes.

Background/aims: This study was conducted to determine whether Hepatitis C virus infection has a role in patients with schistosomal liver disease., Methodology: Sixty patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and evidence of portal hypertension were seen at the Armed Forces Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia over 5 years. The impact of Hepatitis C virus infection on chronic schistosomal liver disease was studied in 30 of these patients (group one) who were Hepatitis C virus positive and compared with the other 30 patients (group two) who were Hepatitis C virus negative (control group)., Results: Hepatitis C virus may be an important factor contributing to deterioration of liver function for patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Liver functions showed elevated ALT in 83.3% in group one compared to 23.4% in group two. Liver biopsy in 19 patients (group one) and 16 patients (group two) showed evidence of schistosomiasis and in patients of group one, liver biopsy also showed chronic active hepatitis together with Schistosoma in 57.9%, and cirrhosis in 31.6%. None of group two patients had cirrhosis. Alpha-fetoprotein levels were elevated in 16 patients (group one) and 3 of these patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. None of the control group had radiological or histological evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma., Conclusion: The mean age of HCV positive patients was less than the HCV negative patients, which may indicate that Hepatitis C virus infection leads to decompensation of liver function earlier in patients with Schistosoma and severe liver disease may be promoted at a younger age in Schistosoma patients with hepatitis C.

Background: Esophageal band ligation is considered to be as efficient as endoscopic sclerotherapy, with a lower complication rate, including bacteremia. There are few studies comparing the two methods. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of bacteremia after both treatments in patients with portal hypertension secondary to schistosomiasis., Methods: Endoscopic sclerotherapy and band ligation were performed using standard techniques. Blood samples were obtained 5 and 30 minutes after endoscopic band ligation or sclerotherapy and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic organisms., Results: In the sclerotherapy group 2 of 43 (4.6%) blood cultures were positive (Peptostreptococcus sp and Streptococcus mitis). A similar result was obtained in the band ligation group: 2 of 35 (5.7%) had positive cultures, both with Staphylococcus aureus., Conclusions: There is no difference in the frequency of bacteremia after treatment of esophageal varices with endoscopic sclerotherapy or endoscopic band ligation in patients with portal hypertension secondary to schistosomiasis.

We report the results of sclerotherapy in 20 patients with bleeding gastric varices due to hepatic schistosomiasis. In an endemic area, patients with hepatic schistosomiasis, and bleeding gastric varices seen on endoscopy to be inferior extension of esophageal varices, were treated with emergency endoscopic injection just proximal to the cardia. Hemostasis was achieved in 17. Obliteration of varices was achieved in all patients with sclerotherapy, combined with surgery. Thirteen patients who had not been operated on in the past and consented to surgery underwent esophagogastric devascularization with splenectomy. Surgery was carried out as an emergency in the three patients who did not respond to sclerotherapy and electively in 10 patients after control of bleeding. After surgery, sclerotherapy was required for remnant varices. One patient with Child-Pugh grade C cirrhosis died of hepatic encephalopathy after control of the bleed. During a median follow-up of 9 months (range, 1-25 months), recurrence of bleeding in one patient and recurrent varices in two others were controlled with sclerotherapy. One patient had a fatal hemorrhage at home. We conclude that sclerotherapy effectively controls acutely bleeding type 1 gastric varices. Combined with esophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy, long-term results may be encouraging in patients with hepatic schistosomiasis.

Background/aims: This comparative study was conducted on 111 patients to evaluate the long term outcome of endoscopic variceal therapy in patients with portal hypertension, and particularly with schistosomiasis., Patients and Methods: There were 45 patients with chronic liver disease due to schistosomiasis, 31 with chronic hepatitis B and 21 with chronic NNb hepatitis. The remaining 14 had chronic liver disease of other etiologies. The mean follow up period was 40 months., Results: Esophageal varices were completely sclerosed in 32 out of 111 patients in 5 sessions (average) over a mean duration of 8 months. A comparison of patients with schistosomal and non-schistosomal liver diseases revealed that 68% of the schistosomal group patients were in child's A classification, compared to 30% of the patients in the non-schistosomal group. There was no significant difference with respect to early rebleeding and recurrence of oesophageal varices. The outcome of sclerotherapy in schistosomal group was better with respect to survival span over a 5 year period of 78% while for the nonschistosomal group it was less than 59%., Conclusions: This study has shown that injection sclerotherapy for bleeding oesophageal varices gives best results when liver function is usually well preserved and for chronic schistosomal liver disease.

Patients with schistosomiasis and portal hypertension have significantly lower levels of hydroxyproline in their saphenous veins and anterior rectus sheaths than do individuals without schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. The stomach of patients with schistosomal portal hypertension demonstrates an increased number of lymphatics by lymphangiography. The disrupted lymph node architecture in these patients could be partially responsible for dilation, tortuosity, and retrograde lymph flow in the gastric lymphatics. These histological and lymphangiographic findings could be attributed to the effect of venous and patients with decompensated schistosomal portal hypertension revealed edema of the entire esophageal wall with lymphatic dilation and tortuosity. Based upon these data, we suggest that the varices that develop in patients with schistosomal portal hypertension occur as a consequence of an increased portal venous pressure together with acquired lymphangiectasia as well as an intrinsic weakness of the walls of the portosystemic venous channels.

Ninety seven patients with liver cirrhosis of schistosomiasis were collected. Its CT findings and features were analysed on the clinicopathological basis including (1) the high percentage of the hepatomegaly and of the enlargement of the left lobe; (2) occurrence of deposition and calcification of eggs in large bowel wall (5/5), the portal vein system (22/97), the root of the mesentery (9/97) and the liver (93/97); (3) the variety and characteristics of the appearances of the intrahepatic calcification; (4) widened and fibrotic changes in the portal canal region. It was also noted that high percentage of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with this disease in the present series (25/97).

Twenty-seven Brazilian and 32 Sudanese patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis from areas where the disease is endemic were examined with ultrasound (US). Hyperechoic periportal areas indicating periportal fibrosis (PPF) were present in all patients irrespective of their origin. Nonspecific findings were splenomegaly (all patients), gallbladder wall thickening (81% and 92%, respectively, in Brazilian and Sudanese patients), portal vein (74% and 87%, respectively) and splenic vein (59% and 70%, respectively) enlargement, and portosystemic vascular shunts (62% and 61%, respectively). The hepatic alterations were congruent and the frequency of their occurrence was similar in both patient groups. With a standardized grading system, it was shown that grade of PPF was significantly correlated with a history of bleeding from endoscopically proved esophageal varices and with distention of the portal vein as measured with US. It was concluded that sonographic grading may be used in patients with hepatosplenic Schistosoma mansoni infection who originate from completely different endemic areas.

Destruction of intrahepatic portal vein branches with dispersion of smooth muscle cells into the periportal fibrosis and preservation of arterial and ductal structures were the main characteristic findings seen in 66 surgical liver biopsies from patients with the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis. Besides these diagnostic features, the present histologic, immunocytochemical, and ultrastructural study revealed the presence of a complex matrix forming the portal and septal fibrosis in advanced schistosomiasis. There was marked hyperplasia of elastic tissue, presence of several collagen isotypes (I, III, procollagen III, IV, and V), actin, desmin, fibronectin, and laminin in a richly vascularized connective tissue. Signs of multifocal matrix (collagen) degradation were observed both at light and electron microscopic levels, suggesting a predominance of a fibrolytic process, at the time parasite-related lesions had almost disappeared. The latter findings are related to the involution of periportal fibrosis now being observed in patients who have undergone antischistosomal chemotherapy. They exemplify morphologic changes connected with chronic collagen degradation in human schistosomiasis that are similar to those first seen in experimental material. Evidence of either persistent or active chronic hepatitis was seen in several cases but its etiology could not be determined.

Fifty subjects divided into three groups were studied: Group I: 10 normal adult subjects as controls. Group II: 20 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis (SHF) without ascites (compensated stage). Group III: 20 patients with SHF with ascites. In all these patients plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), serum aldosterone and serum osmolality were determined. There was a significant decrease in the plasma ANF in groups II and III compared to group I. There was a significant increase in the serum aldosterone level in group III compared to groups I and II. No significant difference was noted in serum sodium and potassium levels among the three groups. There was a significant decrease in serum osmolality in groups II and III compared to group I.

Splenopancreatic disconnection (SPD) was conceived and implemented as a technical addition to distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) to maintain its selectivity and preserve portal perfusion. The proposed hemodynamic and metabolic stability of hepatocytes after DSRS-SPD should improve survival. In this nonrandomized study, 145 consecutive (Child A/B) variceal bleeders were electively subjected to selective shunt with DSRS in 93 and DSRS-SPD in 52 patients. The 2 groups were similar before surgery with a mean follow up of 24 +/- 12 (DSRS) and 27 +/- 14 (DSRS-SPD) months. DSRS-SPD had an operative mortality of 3.8%. Postoperative pancreatitis occurred in 7.7% after DSRS-SPD and 3.2% after DSRS alone, with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis representing 86% of morbid cases. Shunt patency was high and recurrent variceal hemorrhage was low in both groups. Clinical encephalopathy was significantly reduced after DSRS-SPD (p less than 0.05). The addition of SPD significantly reduced both the incidence of chronic hyperbilirubinemia in the schistosomal patients (p less than 0.05) and the difference between the changes in total serum bilirubin in all patients (p = 0.001). Portal perfusion was preserved after DSRS-SPD in all of the angiographically-studied patients. The overall survival was 84% after DSRS and 88% after DSRS-SPD. The schistosomal patients showed an incidence of 95% and 96% survival after DSRS and DSRS-SPD, respectively. DSRS-SPD was able to improve survival (92%) better than DSRS (77%) among well-matched nonschistosomal patients. These data show: (1) DSRS-SPD still has low operative mortality and a high patency rate with a low incidence of recurrent variceal hemorrhage, (2) DSRS-SPD maintains portal perfusion, achieves better survival, and reduces the incidence of encephalopathy, especially in patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis and mixed liver disease, (3) in the schistosomal population, DSRS-SPD reduces the incidence of chronic hyperbilirubinemia but increases the risk of postoperative pancreatitis.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of short-term corticosteroids in resistant ascites complicating schistosomal liver disease after 4 wk or more on standard treatment. Thirty-seven patients were randomly allocated to two groups: Group I (18 patients) was put on 40 mg furosemide and 200 mg spironolactone, in addition to a 15-day, tapering dose of prednisone (15, 10, 5 mg). Group II (19) patients received the same diuretics without steroids, and served as controls. At the end of a 2-wk course of therapy, the mean variations were as follows: body weight in patients in Group I ("cases") decreased by 9.8 kg, compared with 4.3 kg in controls; abdominal girth decreased by 7.4 cm in cases, compared with 3.6 cm in controls; urine output increased by 635.9 ml in cases, compared with 364.6 ml in controls; urinary sodium excretion increased by 16.5 mEq/day in cases, compared with 4.1 mEq/day in controls. These differences between cases and controls were found to be statistically significant (p less than 0.01). On the other hand, there were insignificant differences as regards decrease in blood urea (3.2 g/dl for cases and 2.7 g/dl for controls), decrease in serum creatinine (0.2 mg/dl for both cases and controls), increase in serum albumin (0.3 g/dl in cases and 0.2 g/dl in controls), increase in serum sodium (3.2 mEq/L in cases and 2.7 mEq/L in controls), and increase in serum potassium (0.2 mEq/L in cases and 0.4 mEq/L in controls). We conclude that a short-term course of corticosteroids in conjunction with standard diuretics has proved to be an effective, safe, and economical modality to relieve resistant hepatic ascites. It can be considered a temporary alternative to paracentesis with albumin infusion.

Thirty bilharzial patients were studied for their vitamin A status. Of the patients, 30% were found to have low-fasting serum retinol level below the acceptable level of 20 micrograms/dl and one-third were presented with night blindness. Oral vitamin A therapy was effective in correcting the vitamin A deficiency among this group of patients.

A joint study of the selective shunt in schistosomiasis was conducted in Egypt by the Mansoura University and Emory liver research teams. One hundred seventy patients with biopsy-proven hepatic schistosomiasis and a history of variceal bleeding were included in the study. The findings indicate that this procedure is safe and effective in the treatment of this patient population.

A patient with S. japonicum infestation of the liver presented with acute renal failure due to retroperitoneal fibrosis, together with the presence of low complement levels, anti-nuclear and anti-DNA antibodies. Renal failure responded to intravenous bolus methylprednisone and later definitive surgery, with complement levels returning to normal after the acute episode. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that retroperitoneal fibrosis may be a local manifestation of a systemic immune disease, in which the associated S. japonicum infestation may have a role.

The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test was carried out on blood from ten normal individuals and 20 schistosomal patients, ten of whom had hepatosplenomegaly and ten hepatosplenomegaly and ascites. The test revealed defective neutrophils in patients who had hepatosplenomegaly accompained by ascites. The phagocytic and bactericidal effects from five of each of the two groups of patients; results substantiated tose obtained by the NBT screening test. The NBT screening test thus proved useful in detecting acquired defective function of neutrophils in a helminthic parasitic disease that is accompanied by frequent bacterial infections.

Portal hypertension due to hepato-splenic bilharziasis is common in Abidjan, where we operated on 34 cases in 15 years. The indications for surgical intervention include gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to rupture of esophageal varices, a very bulky enlarged spleen and, more, rarely, recurrent ascites. Simple splenectomy (9 cases) suppresses discomfort and pain, corrects the hypersplenism and brings about a moderate reduction of portal pressure. Spleno-renal anastomosis (19 cases) remains the operation of choice. The long-term results, difficult as these are to assess under ill-regulated African conditions, appear satisfactory on the whole, due to less serious damage to the hepatocyte than in the cirrhoses (62% Child A and 29% Child B). We therefore continue to advocate splenectomy followed if possible by a spleno-renal shunt in bilharzial portal hypertension.

Thirty patients with esophageal varices due to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis underwent surgical treatment. They were divided into two groups. The elective group consisted of 20 patients who underwent splenectomy, gastroesophageal devascularization with esophageal transection using the EEA (U.S. Surgical Supply) stapler. The emergency group included ten patients, one of whom had the same procedure as those in the elective group and nine patients who had only esophageal transection with the EEA stapler. The use of the stapler in performing splenectomy and the devascularization operation did not decrease the recurrence of bleeding. Esophageal stapling in the emergency group controlled the bleeding in 90 per cent of the patients. The reappearance of esophageal varices and gastric varices in three patients in the emergency group was managed by distal splenorenal shunt operation.

HBV exposure and HBsAg positivity rate were examined in 561 residents of an area endemic for S. japonicum and 22 additional cases with severe HSS japonica were also included. The differences in HBV exposure and HBsAg positivity rates among the groups without the parasitism, with schistosomiasis japonica and with HSS (53 cases) were not statistically significant. Comparison of the same parameters between those with and without S. japonicum infection according to sex and age groupings did not also show significant differences. Increasing intensity of S. japonicum infection was not associated with either increasing or decreasing HBV exposure and HBsAg positivity. It is postulated that HBV infection does not contribute to the production of HSS japonica mainly because HBV infection occurs at a much earlier age than S. japonicum infection.

Eleven patients, five males, six females, aged 14-20 years with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS), growth failure and delayed puberty were submitted to endocrine evaluation. All patients had well preserved parenchymal liver function although several changes were present in the portal system, showing a poorly vascularized liver. Bone age was retarded, thyroid function was normal, the human growth hormone response to hypoglycaemia was within the normal limits and the prolactin response to TRH was normal. LH and FSH basal levels were normal and a normal rise was observed after a provocative test with LHRH. Gonadal function, expressed as serum testosterone or oestradiol levels, was abnormally low for the chronological age. Serum somatomedin-C levels were also low (range 0.11-2.10 U/ml) for the respective Tanner stage or bone age of each individual patient. One year after a splenorenal shunting in the three patients that returned for follow-up, it was observed that sexual maturation reached Tanner stage III, linear growth increment ranged from 9.0 to 11.5 cm and serum somatomedin-C levels increased to 4.3-5.6 U/ml. We concluded that a combination of undernutrition and marked vascular changes in the liver, present in HSS, are associated with decreased serum sex steroids and somatomedin-C concentrations, resulting in growth failure and delayed puberty in these patients.