Levels of some serum enzymes in patients with schistosomiasis.

The effect of active schistosomiasis on the activity of some serum enzymes of hepatic origin has been studied in 46 male Egyptian patients with S. mansoni infections. These enzymes included total lactic dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes, 5'nucleotidase, B-glucuronidase, ornithine carbamyl transferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase. Samples were collected on admission, a week after the end of treatment and one month later. B-glucuronidase showed no change whereas ornithine carbamyl transferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and 5'-nucleotidase showed elevated levels throughout the study. Total LDH was not significantly different on admission but increased significantly after treatment and returned to normal at follow up. Of the five LDH isoenzymes only LDH4 showed elevated levels. The significance of these findings in relation to conventional liver function tests is discussed.