Hepatic viral Disease Complicating Schistosoma haematobium Infection Impact on Lymphocytes Phenotypic profile.

Elham A. Ali*, Sohair M. Ahmad and Ahmad M. Nasr**.

Clinical Pathology and Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.

Immunological, laboratory findings, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) markers were compared in 24 male patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis haematobium and 15 healthy controls. Serological tests for hepatitis markers revealed: 10 patients (41.7%) had circulating hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (denoting current infection), 11 patients (45.8%) had antibodies to hepatitis B surface (anti-HBs) and/or core (anti-HBc) antigens (past infection) and 3 patients (12.5%) had no hepatitis virus (HBV) markers. HCV antibodies were present in 30% of patients with HBsAg, in 45.5% with past HBV infection and in 33% of those without HBV markers. HBV infected schistosomal group had higher mean values for serum bilirubin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. The immunological study of the patients with schistosomal chronic liver disease whether pure schistosomal or mixed with chronic hepatitis, showed depression of all cell mediated immunity more in pure schistosomal group. HBV infected schistosomal patients had more decreased pan T-lymphocytes, helper T-cells and suppressor T8 cells as regard to other schistosomal hepatitis patients.