gastrins and Schistosomiasis

The study assessed changes in fasting serum gastrin level in early schistosomiasis and chronic fascioliasis in 52 patients. Forty patients had either schistosomiasis or fascioliasis alone. Twelve patients had combined infection with both parasitosis. Also, ten healthy parasite free individuals were selected as a control. All were clinically examined and subjected to stool analysis, liver function tests and sero-diagnosis for H. pylori. Serum gastrin was measured by radioimmunoassay and showed significant elevation in all patients (with schistosomiasis, fascioliasis or both parasites) compared to controls. A significantly higher serum gastrin level was detected among patients with combined infection relative to either with schistosomiasis or fascioliasis. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased significantly in all patients as compared to control. The activity of the enzyme had significant positive correlation with egg counts in patients with either parasite and with serum gastrin level in those with combined infection. The results were discussed.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Case-Control Studies; Fascioliasis; Feces; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Liver Function Tests; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Radioimmunoassay; Schistosomiasis; Severity of Illness Index

Gastric secretion and fasting plasma gastrin levels were investigated in 26 patients with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis and 26 controls. The groups did not differ in their basal secretion. When stimulated by intravenous infusion of histamine the maximal acid output in patients with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis was significantly less than in the control group. This was unlikely to be a result of neutralisation by reflux of alkaline duodenal contents as the volumes of reflux were not different from control subjects, but was compatible with a true reduction in gastric secretion as assessed by two-component hypothesis. Neither the lowered gastric acidity nor the liver damage in patients with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis correlated with circulating gastrin. The fasting levels of plasma gastrin in these patients were not different from controls. As in other liver diseases the cause of diminished gastric secretion remains unclear.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Gastric Juice; Gastrins; Histamine; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Middle Aged; Schistosomiasis; Secretory Rate

Topics: Gastrins; Humans; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Radioimmunoassay; Schistosomiasis; Splenic Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Gastrins; Hemangioma; Humans; Hypersplenism; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Middle Aged; Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; Portal Vein; Postoperative Complications; Schistosomiasis; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome