Early liver dysfunction in schistosomiasis

Background/Aims: Liver dysfunction is said to occur only late in the course of schistosomiasis. As albumin levels tend to be normal, the observed prolonged prothrombin time is thought to arise from subclinical consumption coagulopathy. The aim of this study was to further evaluate this matter by studying the role of Schistosoma mansoni and liver function in the genesis of the compromised haemostasis tests in chronic “pure” schistosomiasis patients. Methods: Twenty-five adults with chronic “pure” schistosomiasis were selected: 12 with the hepatointestinal form (group 2) and 13 with the compensated hepatosplenic form (group 3), as well as 10 matched control individuals (group 1). Alcoholism, viral hepatitis B and C, malnutrition (BMI