title: Reversibility of schistosomal periportal thickening/fibrosis after praziquantel therapy: a twenty-six month follow-up study in Ethiopia.
abstract: To study outcome determinants of schistosomal periportal thickening/fibrosis (PPT/F), 199 subjects (mean age = 24.0 years, range = 7-68 years), 109 with mild (image pattern C) PPT/F, 69 with moderate (image pattern D) PPT/F, and 21 with severe (image patterns E and F) PPT/F were treated with praziquantel and evaluated every six months for a mean duration of 26 months. Subjects excreting Schistosoma mansoni eggs during any of the six-month evaluations were offered repeat treatment. Thirty-five had some improvement, and 69 had total resolution of PPT/F, of which 63.8% resolved within one year. Compared with subjects with moderate lesions, a significantly higher proportion of subjects with mild lesions had resolution/improvement of PPT/F (40.6% versus 69.7%, P < 0.001). Subjects with severe PPT/F showed no improvement. Resolution of PPT/F was significantly more frequent at a younger age, among seronegative for hepatitis B virus and among those with a lower frequency of post-treatment recurrence of S. mansoni infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. nega_berhe@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nega
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berhe
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Myrvang
authors.forename: Svein G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gundersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005002:Ethiopia; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011223:Praziquantel