article · Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Infection with Schistosoma mansoni was previously shown to trigger reactive oxygen species and alter antioxidant defences in animal models. To assess whether similar mechanisms operate in humans, researchers evaluated serum markers of oxidative stress, specifically lipid peroxides and protein carbonyl, alongside hyaluronate levels in subjects from an endemic region in the Sudan. Fibrosis severity was determined through ultrasonographic examination, and measurements were compared against both Sudanese and European control groups. Subjects from the endemic area exhibited higher concentrations of these serum metabolites than the controls. These levels rose alongside advancing grades of fibrosis, while protein carbonyl and hyaluronic acid also showed positive correlations with lipid peroxide levels. The findings suggest that oxidative stress contributes to human disease pathology and indicate that these easily measured markers could help identify near-asymptomatic individuals at risk of severe complications.
Schistosomiasis can silently cause progressive liver scarring without displaying obvious early symptoms. By demonstrating that oxidative stress markers in the blood correspond with the severity of tissue fibrosis, this research opens the door to simpler diagnostic monitoring. Detecting these chemical changes early could allow healthcare providers to spot vulnerable individuals and intervene before irreversible, life-threatening organ damage takes place.
The findings suggest potential applications in diagnostic testing, specifically as a biochemical index to screen asymptomatic populations for risk of severe schistosomiasis. Likely end users include diagnostic laboratories, public health programmes, and clinical providers in endemic regions. The research represents early-stage clinical biomarker discovery, meaning substantial assay standardisation and larger validation trials will be required before any diagnostic tool reaches practical use.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
We showed previously that infection by Schistosoma mansoni not only triggers the production of reactive oxygen species in mouse liver but also leads to the alteration of antioxidant defences. To determine whether such events occur in humans, we measured the serum markers of oxidative stress, i.e., lipid peroxides and protein carbonyl, as well as hyaluronate levels in subjects in the Managil area of the Sudan. Grades of fibrosis were determined by ultrasonographic examination. Two groups were used as controls, one Sudanese and the other European. We found that Sudanese subjects in the endemic area differed from the control groups, both Sudanese and European, insofar as they had higher levels of the serum metabolites measured. The latter increased with the grade of fibrosis. Moreover, protein carbonyl and hyaluronic acid levels correlated positively with lipid peroxide levels. These findings indicate that oxidative stress might contribute to S. mansoni-associated pathology in man. The serum markers considered in our study, obtained by relatively simple techniques, may provide a useful biochemical index for the identification of almost asymptomatic patients who, however, are at risk of developing severe schistosomiasis.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1016/s0035-9203(00)90443-7
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
