Schistosomiasis
Complications of human schistosomiasis and their effect on levels of plasma
copper, zinc and serum vitamin A.
Mikhail MM; Mansour MM
Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 1982;36(4):289-96 Plasma copper, zinc, serum
vitamin A and carotenoids were serially determined in three groups of
patients: a group with active Schistosoma mansoni infection, a group with
S. mansoni complicated by colonic polyposis and a group with S. mansoni
associated with chronic salmonellosis. Results indicated a significant
elevation in copper and significant depressions in zinc, vitamin A and
carotenoids, the degree of which correlate with the associated complications
of this disease. There was a positive correlation between zinc and vitamin
A levels in all patients on admission suggesting a relationship between
these two nutrients in schistosomal infection. Nutritional repletion
of some patients of the first group resulted in significantly improved
levels of copper, zinc, vitamin A and carotenoids before drug therapy
was introduced indicating that alterations of these parameters are at
least partially related to anaemia and poor nutritional status.
At clinical recovery, levels of the four parameters were significantly
improved in all patients from pre-treatment values but were within the
normal range only in patients of the first group. This indicates that
complications associated with schistosomiasis may delay normalization
of copper, zinc and vitamin A levels beyond the clinical cure stage.
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