Liver function tests during amoebic liver abscess formation in indomethacin-treated hamsters

Establishment of Entamoeba histolytica infection is facilitated through mac rophage effector disruption by a prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2))-mediated mechan ism. Infection severity may be measured by weight of abscess formed. Indome thacin (Indo) treatment of infected hamsters reduced abscess weight by 30% at 7 days post-infection presumably by inhibition of PGE2. To explain reduc tions in abscess development by Indo treatment, we determined liver functio nality in Indo-treated or untreated animals, either healthy or infected. De terminations of serum glutamic oxaloacetic (SGOT) and glutamic pyruvic SGPT ) transaminases, serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP), total serum protein TSP) , and bilirubinemia were done. SGOT, SGPT, and SAP activities showed a sign ificant increase in their values by 600% at seven days post-infection in in fected animals in both conditions; nonstatistical differences were found be tween animals treated or not. This increase did not correlate with the perc entage of damage. Infected nontreated hamsters showed TSP levels 30% below normal group (P < 0.05). Infected Indo-treated hamsters had no significant differences compared to normal values. Infected nontreated animals showed a n increase in bilirubin, particularly in indirect bilirubin, whereas infect ed Indo-treated hamsters showed total bilirubin values lower than normals ( P < 0.05), with a decrease in direct bilirubin levels. Our results demonstr ated that E. histolytica infection in hamsters produces similar abnormaliti es in liver function as it does in humans, and that the beneficial effect o f Indo treatment on amoebic abscess development is not related with an impr ovement of liver functionality. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.