ATRIAL NATRIURETIC FACTOR IN PATIENTS WITH SCHISTOSOMAL HEPATIC DISEASE

Abstract

The aim ofthis study is to estimate the level of plasma ANF in patients with heptosplenic schistosomiasis with and without liver cirrhosis, ascites, bleeding oesophageal varices and bilharzia!cor­ pulmonale.

The study was performed on 50 patients classified into 5 groups and 10 healthy subjects matched for age and sex who served as a control group.

All patients and control were subjected to full clinical examination and laboratory investigations, ANF and PRA estimation by radio immunoassay.

The study showed the following :

1- The plasma ANF was significantly lower than the control m patients with schistosoma! hepatic fibrosis and higher than the control in ascitic and cor-pulmonale cases. No significant difference was found in the bleeding oesophageal varices group and cirrhotic group.

2- Plasma renin activity was not different from control in schistosoma! hepatic fibrosis group and cirrhotic group. It was higher than control in ascitic, bleeding O.V. and cor- pulmonale groups.

3- The albumin level was significantly lower than control in all groups but the lowest level was in the ascitic group.