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A study of autoimmunity in schistosomiasis
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Cairo, Egypt.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis or kidney disease show elevated autoantibodies. Notably, the absence of rheumatoid factor in schistosomal glomerulonephritis patients suggests a protective role against kidney complications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Tropical Medicine
- Nephrology
Background:
- Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease with significant public health implications.
- Complications like hepatic fibrosis and glomerulonephritis are associated with chronic schistosomal infections.
- Autoantibodies play a role in various autoimmune and infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the profile of circulating autoantibodies in patients with different stages of Schistosoma mansoni infection.
- To determine the association between specific autoantibodies and schistosomal hepatic fibrosis or glomerulonephritis.
- To explore the potential role of rheumatoid factor in the development of renal disease in schistosomiasis.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 54 schistosomiasis patients (early infection, hepatic fibrosis, glomerulonephritis) and 10 healthy controls were analyzed.
- Levels of antinuclear, anti-smooth muscle, antimitochondrial, anti-ds DNA antibodies, and rheumatoid factor were quantified.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated levels of antinuclear, anti-smooth muscle, and antimitochondrial antibodies were observed in patients with hepatic fibrosis and glomerulonephritis.
- Anti-ds DNA antibodies were markedly higher in the glomerulonephritis group compared to early infection and hepatic fibrosis groups.
- Rheumatoid factor was notably absent in patients with schistosomal glomerulonephritis.
Conclusions:
- Elevated autoantibody levels are associated with advanced schistosomiasis complications, including hepatic fibrosis and glomerulonephritis.
- Anti-ds DNA antibodies may serve as a biomarker for schistosomal glomerulonephritis.
- The absence of rheumatoid factor in schistosomal glomerulonephritis suggests a potential protective mechanism against renal disease development in schistosomiasis.