Dexamethasone treatment improves morphological and hematological parameters in chronic experimental schistosomiasis.
Schistosomiasis, a chronic disease with considerable social impact, is an important health problem in many countries. To investigate the possible use of immunomodulators as coadjuvants in the treatment of chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection, we evaluated the effect of dexamethasone on histological, hematological, and biochemical parameters that reflect disease severity and morbidity. Animals treated from the first day or after 35 days of infection, were analyzed. In both groups, dexamethasone: (1) induced a decrease in the number of granulomas in hepatic tissue without affecting the alanine aminotransferase profile, (2) reduced splenomegaly and hepatomegaly associated with disease, and (3) improved hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit values and reduced the percentage of reticulocytes, preventing the development of anemia that occurs in the chronic phase of infection. These data suggest that treatment with dexamethasone results in a mild course of murine schistosomiasis and point to this drug as a promising agent to complement S. mansoni specific treatment.
Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Cidade Universitária, CCS, UFRJ, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. pyrrho@pharma.ufrj.br
Alexandre S
AS
Pyrrho
Henrique Leonel
HL
Lenzi
Juliene Antonio
JA
Ramos
Roberto
R
Moura-Neto
Fabio Christiane O F
FC
Cachem
Célia
C
Santos da Silva
Christina Maeda
CM
Takiya
Cerli Rocha
CR
Gattass
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000740:Anemia / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000410:Alanine Transaminase