Serum transferrin, albumin and IgG levels in hepatosplenic bilharziasis in Egypt
Saif, M.; Tawfik, J.; Ali, M.A.; El-Mahrouky, S.F.; Galil, N.; Galal, M.N.
Journal of the Egyptian Medical Association 60(9-12): 731-743
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0013-2411 PMID: 753855 Document Number: 120490
The sera of 67 patients with Schistosoma mansoni (34 without hepatosplenomegaly and 33 with hepatosplenomegaly) were compared with those of 37 controls. There was a significant decrease of serum albumin and an increase of gamma -globulin in the infected groups; these changes were more pronounced in hepatosplenic cases than in uncomplicated cases. A marked elevation in the beta -globulin fraction was found in the hepatosplenic cases. The gamma -globulin level was significantly greater in those sera that produced a large amount of precipitate in the circumoval precipitin test (COPT) than in those that produced little or no precipitate. In patients without hepatosplenomegaly there were significant increases in the levels of transferrin and IgG and in those with hepatosplenomegaly there was a significant increase in IgG and a fall in transferrin. In 32 patients who exhibited moderately positive reactions to the COPT there were significant increases in the levels of transferrin and IgG and a fall in albumin. In 28 who exhibited moderate to strong positive reactions there was a significant increase in the level of IgG, and a fall in the levels of transferrin and albumin. The hypotransferrinaemia and the marked rise of IgG in patients with hepatosplenomegaly indicated that the anaemia encountered in most cases is not mainly due to iron deficiency. It is considered to be, at least in part, to result from immunological mechanisms and autoimmune processes.