Endothelial markers in schistosomiasis patients with or without portal hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the serum levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and endothelin-3 (ET-3) in patients with the isolated, inactive form of Schistosomiasis mansoni. Patients were classified into two groups: 10 patients without (SM group) and 18 with (PH group) portal hypertension.


RESULTS
Serum albumin, VEGF, and vWF levels did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). The prothrombin time (INR), number of platelets, spleen size, splenic vein diameter, and endothelin levels differentiated the PH group, which showed decreased ET-1 (SM = 22.4 +/- 2.4 pg/ml and PH = 16.4 +/- 1.5 pg/ml; P = 0.034) and increased ET-3 (SM = 2.1 +/- 0.1 ng/ml and PH = 3.2 +/- 0.1 ng/ml; P = 0.000) levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with schistosomiasis and portal hypertension (presinusoidal type), the levels of VEGF and ET-1 differ from those reported in patients with cirrhosis.
de Toledo
Carlos Fischer
CF
Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Carvente
Claudia Teresa
CT
Shigueoka
David Carlos
DC
Borges
Durval Rosa
DR