[The secretory activity of blood platelets--beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 in echinococcosis]

Parasitic infection can cause local or systemic inflammatory process. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, with eosinophils as the effector cells, is the major mechanism of antiparasitic defence. The cytotoxic activity against antibody-coated parasites is also demonstrated by blood platelets. Platelets initiate and maintain inflammatory processes, become activated due to contact with immunocompetent cells or due to a direct contact with a parasite.

The aim of the examination was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of platelets in patients infected with Echinococcus granulosus.

The study was conducted on a group of 24 patients (aged 26-69) infected with Echinococcus granulosus, 19 women and 5 men. The patients were treated with albendazole (Zentel) and did not give consent to surgical procedure. Blood for analysis was collected prior to treatment. Patients infected with E. granulosus were subjected to the examination of platelet activation through the assessment of beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 concentrations. The concentration of beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 were assayed using a set of ASSERACHROM (Boehringer Mannheim) according to the immunoenzymatic method with labelled antibodies. Platelet count and their morphological parameters were determined with haematologic analyser Technicon H-3 System. Although platelets do not get into a direct contact with the parasite, an increase is observed in the concentrations of beta-thromboglobulin (16.09 +/- 2.68 IU/ml) and platelet factor 4 (8.47 +/- 3.32 IU/ml), which may indicate the involvement of platelets in the parasitic disease.