Association of intestinal helminths with decreased liver size and sCD23 concentration during falciparum malaria.
To determine if intestinal helminths and the CD23/nitric oxide pathway had an influence on liver size, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 438 patients with confirmed P. falciparum malaria admitted at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Bangkok. For all patients the liver size was measured as number of centimeters below the rib cage, a stool examination was conducted, and CD23 and reactive nitrogen intermediates were measured. The median liver size was smaller in helminth-infected patients than in helminth-free patients (chi2 for trend = 9.1, p = 0.003). Liver size significantly increased with the concentration of sCD23 (p < 0.0001). The median sCD23 concentration (OD) was significantly lower in helminth-infected patients than in helminth-free patients, respectively 0.33 (quartiles 0.24-0.57) and 0.45 (quartiles 0.27-0.59), (p = 0.01). There was a negative correlation between sCD23 concentrations and RNI (Spearman's rho = -0.40, p < 0.0001). All the above results remained significant after controlling for potential confounders. These results are compatible with a CD23/NO-mediated decrease in liver size in helminth-infected patients.
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. m_nacher@lycos.com
Mathieu
M
Nacher
Sombat
S
Treeprasertsuk
Pratap
P
Singhasivanon
Nuntaporn
N
Popakdee
Udomsak
U
Silachamroon
Valai
V
Bussaratid
Weerapong
W
Phumratanaprapin
Sornchai
S
Looareesuwan
Polrat
P
Wilairatana
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011336:Probability; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D009569:Nitric Oxide