Assessment of factors II, VII, IX, X, and protein C in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

Forty-four patients with schistosomiasis mansoni were divided into two groups: a group of 31 patients with hepatosplenomegaly and a group of 13 patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis and ascites. Both groups were compared to a control group of 14 healthy subjects. Screening of the extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation pathways was performed by PT (%) and aPTT. Functional assays of vitamin-K-dependent coagulation proteins: factors II, VII, IX, X, and protein C were conducted by using standard methods. A progressive reduction in PT (%) and prolongation in aPTT were detected in the diseased groups. Furthermore, all studied coagulation proteins showed a progressive reduction in their activities, which became more pronounced in the group with advanced ascites. We conclude that the significant reduction in vitamin-K-dependent coagulation proteins might add to the coagulopathy and bleeding diathesis noted in patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni.