Short report: Evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in persons co-infected with Schistosoma mansoni and human immunodeficiency virus 1

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2004 Dec;71(6):783-6.

Abstract

To investigate whether infection with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) affects fibrosis development in patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni, we evaluated schistosomiasis-induced pathology in the livers of Kenyan patients co-infected with HIV-1. Compared with persons with schistosomiasis alone (n = 58), there were no significant differences in distribution of ultrasound-detectable pathology in persons with HIV-1 co-infection (n = 23). Similarly, serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were not significantly different in HIV-1+ individuals. Hepatic fibrosis was associated with significantly decreased CD4+ T cell counts, even in the absence of HIV-1 infection. These data suggest that HIV-1 co-infection does not significantly alter the proportion of patients experiencing schistosomiasis-induced fibrosis, but pathology associated with S. mansoni infections leads to CD4+ T cell reductions and thereby may exacerbate the effects of HIV-1 in co-infected individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / complications*

Substances

  • Aspartate Aminotransferases