November 2015 Vol.3 No.2

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Original Research Article

Genetic and Other Factors Controlling the Effect of Praziquantel on Liver Fibrosis in Schistosoma mansoni Infected Patients

^*1Siddig A. Rahoud (PhD), ²Adil Mergani (MD, PhD), ³Awad A. Algarni (PhD) and ⁴Nasr Eldin M. A. Elwali (PhD)

¹Associate Prof., Parasitology and Molecular Biology, Albaha University, Faculty of Science and Arts, Baljurashi, KSA
²Associate Prof., Molecular Biology, College of Applied Medical Sciences – Tarabah, Taif University, KSA
³Assistant Prof., Genetics, Albaha University, Faculty of Science and Arts, Baljurashi, KSA
⁴Professor, Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Al Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, KSA

*Corresponding Author’s Email: srahoud@gmail.com
Tel: +966 530215649

Accepted November 08, 2015

Abstract

To evaluate the genetic and other factors controlling the effect of Praziquantel (PZQ) therapy on the regression of liver fibrosis in an endemic population. Periportal fibrosis (PPF) in one hundred seventy-seven Sudanese patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni [82 (46%) males and 95 (54%) females] was evaluated by ultrasound between 1999-2002. DNA from patients infected with S. mansoni was extracted using standard salting-out method, purified and amplified by PCR. Allelic typing was done using RFLP. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) software was used for statistical analysis. Chi-Square was used to compare the two phenotypes (regression and progression) in the study subjects. Regression phenotype was reported in 63 (35.6%) patients, while the disease progressed to higher grades of fibrosis in 24 (13.6 %) patients. No change in grade of fibrosis in 90 (50.8%) patients. The mean values of spleen volume (S.Vol.) in patients with regression phenotype were found to be significant when compared to that in patients with progression one (P=0.003). Progression phenotype in males (15, 8.5 %) was greater than that of females (9, 5.1 %). Patients with regression phenotype were clustered in certain families. The possible genetic control of PPF has been evaluated by studying the role of polymorphism (IFN-g rs2069705 (C/T) in the regression of PPF. No significant association between the polymorphism (IFN-g rs2069705 (C/T) and PPF as response to PZQ (P = 0.5). Our study indicated that PZQ therapy has a great effect on regression and stabilization of PPF. The regression of liver fibrosis was controlled by gender, age, grade of fibrosis, and possibly inherited factors.

Key words: Periportal fibrosis (PPF), Polymorphisms, Praziquantel (PZQ), Progression, Regression