A study of autoimmunity in schistosomiasis

Circulating auto-antibodies were estimated in sera of ten normal persons and fifty-four schistosomal patients classified into 3 groups: Group I 20 patients with early S. mansoni infection, Group II 20 patients with post schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and Group III 14 patients with post schistosomal glomerulonephritis. A significant high levels of auto antibodies (antinuclear-antismooth muscle and antimitochondrial antibodies) were noticed in Groups II & III. Anti-ds DNA antibodies were significantly higher in Group III than in the other two groups. It was interesting to notice absence of rheumatoid factor in patients with schistosomal glomerulonephritis which may suggest that RF production may have a protective mechanism in patients with schistosomiasis against development of renal disease.