title: Value of beta 1C/1A globulin serum levels as an early index of glomerular involvement in Schistosoma mansoni infection.
abstract: In attempting the early detection of glomerular abnormalities in patients with the hepatosplenic form of Schistosoma mansoni infection, the serum concentration of beta 1C/1A globulin was determined in 17 patients without clinical evidence of nephropathy. Renal biopsies were obtained during splenectomy in all of them. The serum levels of beta 1C/1A globulin were below the normal limit in eight patients; of these, two had histological evidence of focal proliferative glomerulonephritis, two others had membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and one showed focal sclerosing glomerulonephritis. Of nine patients with normal serum levels of beta 1C/1A globulin, eight had no glomerular abnormalities demonstrated by light microscopy. Determination of the serum concentration of beta 1C/1A globulin proved to be a valuable index for the detection of early glomerulopathy in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, since a low level correlated well with the histologic demonstration of glomerular involvement by light microscopy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; C027288:beta 1C-1A globulin