Endothelial markers in schistosomiasis patients with or without portal hypertension.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the serum levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and endothelin-3 (ET-3) in patients with the isolated, inactive form of Schistosomiasis mansoni. Patients were classified into two groups: 10 patients without (SM group) and 18 with (PH group) portal hypertension.

RESULTS

Serum albumin, VEGF, and vWF levels did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). The prothrombin time (INR), number of platelets, spleen size, splenic vein diameter, and endothelin levels differentiated the PH group, which showed decreased ET-1 (SM = 22.4 +/- 2.4 pg/ml and PH = 16.4 +/- 1.5 pg/ml; P = 0.034) and increased ET-3 (SM = 2.1 +/- 0.1 ng/ml and PH = 3.2 +/- 0.1 ng/ml; P = 0.000) levels.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with schistosomiasis and portal hypertension (presinusoidal type), the levels of VEGF and ET-1 differ from those reported in patients with cirrhosis.