Immuno-metabolic factors in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis modulating atherogenesis

Clinical expression of atherosclerosis is infrequent among patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis (SHF), besides, the latter disease is a disease with many immunological expressions. The aim of the present work was to search for a possible immunological and metabolic interaction which would modulate atherogenic mechanisms. The study was carried out on 31 patients with SHF and 20 non-schistosomal subjects (10 with evident clinical atherosclerosis and 10 without). All investigated subjects were males aged above 40 years, and were subjected to the following: serum lipoprotein pattern, total cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, ApoA, ApoB, IgG, IgM, IgA, C3 + circulating immune complexes (CICs) and passive haemagglutination using S mansoni adult worm antigens. The results showed low levels of blood lipids in patients with SHF especially in those with porto-systemic collaterals; serum levels of IgG and IgM were significantly increased in all patients with SHF, while IgA was only increased in patients with collaterals who in turn showed the least incidence of clinically evident atherosclerosis; serum C3 was increased in patients with clinical atherosclerosis, both schistosomal and non-schistosomal. CICs have been higher in patients with SHF without atherosclerosis while decreased in atherosclerosis patients, both schistosomal and non-schistosomal. Our results may consolidate the view of a protective role of liver affection against atherogenesis as well as the important contribution of the immune mechanisms in this context.