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Morbidity assessment in urinary schistosomiasis infection through ultrasonography and measurement of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in urine
Author(s) -
Leutscher Peter D. C.,
Reimert Claus M.,
Vennervald Birgitte J.,
Ravaoalimalala Voahangy E.,
Ramarokoto Charles E.,
Serieye Jean,
Raobelison Ando,
Rasendramino Mamy,
Christensen Niels O.,
Esterre Philippe
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2000.00522.x
Subject(s) - urinary system , schistosoma haematobium , urine , medicine , eosinophil cationic protein , schistosomiasis , urinary bladder , pathology , eosinophil , gastroenterology , urology , immunology , helminths , asthma
Summary In a Schistosoma haematobium ‐endemic village in western Madagascar we evaluated ultrasonography and Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) in urine as means to detect the associated urinary tract pathology. 192 individuals were matched according to age and sex, and grouped into infected persons with bladder and, if present, kidney pathology ( n = 96); infected persons without pathology ( n = 48) and noninfected persons without pathology ( n = 48). The median urinary egg count was significantly higher in individuals with ultrasonographically detectable urinary tract pathology (115 eggs/10 ml urine) than in infected persons without (45 eggs/10 ml of urine). At 136 ng/ml, the median ECP level was significantly higher in the 144 infected individuals than in the 48 noninfected persons (0.35 ng/ml). Egg excretion correlated positively with ECP level. The median ECP level was significantly higher in the group with ultrasonographically detectable urinary tract pathology than in the group without (183 ng/ml vs . 67 ng/ml). The results suggest that minor degrees of pathology, particularly at an early stage of infection with S. haematobium , might be overlooked by ultrasonography despite the presence of marked inflammation, as indicated by markedly increased urinary ECP levels in infected individuals without ultrasonographically detectable urinary tract pathology. ECP may therefore provide important information on the evolution of S. haematobium ‐associated urinary tract morbidity.