CIRCULATING CONNECTIVE-TISSUE METABOLITES IN PATIENTS WITH BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS

Sera from adults from an area of Tanzania with high endemicity for Wuc hereria bancrofti infection were examined for 4 serological markers of extracellular matrix activity, namely the amino-terminal propeptide o f type LTS procollagen (PIIINP), the carboxy-terminal propeptide of ty pe I procollagen (PICP), the carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I co llagen (ICTP), and hyaluronan. Sera from individuals with nonfilarial elephantiasis and from healthy Danes were included as controls. No ass ociation was observed between the mean serum concentration of PIIINP o r PICP and the clinical, microfilarial or circulating Narial antigen s tatus of the individuals. The mean concentration of ICTP was significa ntly higher (P<0.01) in sera from individuals with filarial and nan-fi larial elephantiasis than in sera from individuals living in filariasi s endemic areas but without elephantiasis or in the Danish control ser a. Among individuals from the filariasis endemic area, the mean serum concentration of hyaluronan was significantly higher (P<0.01) in micro filaraemic than in amicrofilaraemic individuals, and significantly hig her (P<0.01) in individuals who had circulating filarial antigens than in those who did not, but there was no relation to the clinical statu s,The significance of the findings are discussed in relation to the pa thological processes taking place in bancroftian filariasis.