SERUM LAMININ IN HEPATOSPLENIC HUMAN SCHISTOSOMIASIS

Serum laminin level was measured in chronic hepatic schistosomiasis. A significant increase in the mean serum laminin levels was observed in patients with hepatosplenic (HS) schistosomiasis (2,57 +/- 0,83 U/ml) , as compared to those in patients with the hepatointestinal (HI) form of the disease (1,38 +/- 0,45-U/ml) and in the control group (1,15 +/ - 0,31 U/ml). In the HS patients there was a significant direct relati on between serum laminin and percutaneous splenic pulp pressure (r = 0 ,68). These findings are compatible with an increased production of la minin in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with may be related to the obse rved enlarged liver and spleen basement membranes in such disease.