title: Praziquantel in the treatment of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis: biochemical disease markers indicate deceleration of fibrogenesis and diminution of portal flow obstruction.
abstract: Serological indicators for disease activity and portal vein obstruction and/or deviation were assessed in 23 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis before, and up to 18 months after, praziquantel treatment, as well as in 25 matched local controls. Cessation of egg-induced immunopathology was reflected by the return to normal of serum procollagen-III-propeptide and neopterin concentrations. Reversibility of portal vein pathology was indicated by normal clearance of cholylglycine in cases without signs of decompensating portal hypertension. In most patients with a history of ascites and/or haemorrhage, serum cholylglycine concentration remained pathological. The results provide evidence that the fibrogenic process ceases after specific chemotherapy, and that portal vein pathology regresses in a substantial proportion of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis cases.
authors.affiliation: Landesinstitut für Tropenmedizin Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zwingenberger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Vergetti
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feldmeier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006000:Glycocholic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D001708:Biopterins; D011223:Praziquantel; D019798:Neopterin; D006000:Glycocholic Acid