Clinical and immunologic evaluation of 31 patients with acute schistosomiasis mansoni

• Autor(a) principal: Jesus, A. R. de
• Data de Publicação: 2002
• Outros Autores: Silva, A., Santana, L. B., Magalhaes, A., Jesus, A. A. de, Almeida, R. P. de, Rego, MAV, Burattini, Marcelo Nascimento [UNIFESP], Pearce, E. J., Carvalho, E. M.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/26689; http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/324668

Thirty-one patients with acute schistosomiasis were evaluated clinically and immunologically. Cytokine levels were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) supernatants. Levels of total and antigen-specific IgE, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and immune complexes were measured in serum samples. Clinical findings included general symptoms, liver damage, pulmonary involvement, and pericarditis. All patients had eosinophilia. Immune complexes were detected in 55% of the patients (mean +/- SD, 7.8 +/- 7.6 mug Eq/mL) and were associated with cough, dyspnea, and abnormal chest radiographic findings. Levels (mean +/- SD) of TNF-alpha (1349.3 +/- 767.6 pg/mL), interleukin (IL)-1 (2683 +/- 1270 mug/mL), and IL-6 (382 +/- 52.3 pg/mL) were elevated in PBMC. Serum TNF-alpha levels were elevated in 87% of the patients and were associated with abdominal pain. Higher interferon-gamma levels were detected in PBMC of patients with acute disease than in those of patients with chronic schistosomiasis; IL-5 levels were higher in those with chronic disease. Low IL-5 levels were associated with weight loss. Proinflammatory cytokines and immune complexes with low Th2 responses might explain the immunopathogenesis of acute schistosomiasis.