title: Nitric oxide monocyte production levels in patients with the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis mansoni who underwent splenectomy, ligature of the left gastric vein and auto implantation of spleen tissue in the major omentum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the levels of NO production by monocytes in patients with the hepatosplenic form of Schistosomiasis mansoni who underwent splenectomy, ligature of the left gastric vein and auto implantation of spleen tissue in the major omentum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of volunteers were enrolled in the investigation: G1 - 12 patients with S. mansoni infection in its hepatosplenic form without any kind of treatment (SMH); G2 - 13 SMH patients who underwent medical treatment and portal hypertension decompression splenectomy and ligature of the left gastric vein (SMH/SLGV); G3 - 19 patients similar to the later group, but additionally received auto implantation of spleen morsels in the major omentum (SMH/SLGV/AI); and G4 - 15 individuals with no S. mansoni infection coming from the same geographical area and presenting similar socio-economical status (CG). Nitrite production by monocytes was determined by a standard Griess reaction adapted to microplates. The results were presented by mean +/- SD for each group. Significant differences in NO production by monocytes were determined by Tukey-Kramer multicomparisons test. Probability values of 0.05 were considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients from G1 (SMH) showed lower level of NO production by monocytes (5.28 +/- 1.28 micromol/ml). Patients from G2 (SMH/SLGV) showed similar results (6.67 +/- 0.44 micromol/ml-q = 2.681 p > 0.05). Individuals of G4 (CG) showed higher level of NO production by monocytes (8.19 +/- 2.74 micromol/ml). Patients from G3 (SMH/SGLV/AI) showed similar NO production by PBMC as compared to individuals of G4 (CG) - (7.41 +/- 1.65 micromol/ml- q = 1.615 p > 0.05). The volunteers from G4 (CG) and G3 (SMH/SLGV/AI) showed significantly greater levels of NO production by monocytes as compared to those from G1 (SMH) - (q = 5.837 p < 0.01, and q = 4.285 p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, the results point to a restoration of NO normal production by monocytes in SHM patients who underwent medical and surgical treatments, especially in those who had received auto implantation of spleen tissue in the major omentum after splenectomy and ligature of the left gastric vein. The data gives further support to the hypothesis that this additional procedure is important in the restoration of the immune response of these patients, since NO synthesis by the monocytes correlates with protective immunity against infection; thus, protecting them against overwhelming post splenectomy infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil. carlosbrandt@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Carlos Teixeira
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto Carvalho
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Francisco Machado
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Manhaes-de-Castro
authors.forename: Erika Michelle Correia de
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Rebecca Peixoto Paes
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Célia Maria Machado Barbosa de
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D008026:Ligation; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009852:Omentum / Q000276:immunology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D013154:Spleen / Q000637:transplantation; D013156:Splenectomy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014680:Veins
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide