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Serum and urinary ribonuclease in children with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis
Insights
Serum and urinary ribonuclease (RNase) activity is elevated in children with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. This suggests RNase is a sensitive indicator for early metabolic changes and disease severity in schistosomiasis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Medicine
- Parasitology
Background:
- Schistosomal hepatic fibrosis is a significant health concern in children.
- Early detection of metabolic disturbances is crucial for effective management.
- Existing biomarkers like GOT, GPT, and AP may not be sensitive enough for early stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum and urinary ribonuclease (RNase) activity in children with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.
- To compare the sensitivity of RNase activity with traditional liver enzymes (GOT, GPT, AP).
- To assess the potential of RNase activity in grading disease severity.
Main Methods:
- Assessed serum and urinary RNase activity in 15 healthy children and 52 children with varying stages of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.
- Compared RNase activity with serum aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (AP).
- Evaluated the impact of treatment (Astiban and protein-rich diet) on RNase and liver enzyme levels.
Main Results:
- Serum and urinary RNase activity were significantly higher in children with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis compared to healthy controls.
- Elevated RNase levels correlated with malnutrition, tissue catabolism, zinc deficiency, and liver cell injury.
- Treatment led to a significant reduction in RNase activity and a less significant drop in GOT, GPT, and AP.
- Urinary RNase levels showed potential for grading the severity of the disease.
Conclusions:
- Serum and urinary RNase activity are more sensitive indicators of early metabolic disturbances in schistosomal patients than GOT, GPT, or AP.
- RNase activity can be a valuable tool for monitoring disease progression and treatment response.
- Urinary RNase levels may serve as a reliable biomarker for assessing the severity of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.
Abstract:
Serum and urinary RNase activity was determined in 15 normal children and in 52 children in various clinical stages of schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. The activity of serum RNase was compared with that of serum GOT, GPT and AP. The activity of serum and urinary RNase in the different schistosomal groups was significantly higher than in healthy children. The elevated levels of serum and urinary RNase activity were possibly due to malnutrition with tissue catabolism, zinc-deficiency and liver cell injury. Treatment with Astiban and protein-rich diet resulted in a significant decrease in serum and urinary RNase activity and an in significant drop in serum GOT, GPT and AP. Serum and urinary RNase appear to be more sensitive indices for evaluating the early metabolic disturbances in schistosomal patients than GOT, GPT or AP. Our findings also showed that the severity of cases could be graded according to the level of urinary RNase.