Study of Immuno-Modulation by Corticosteroids in Patients with Latent Sehistosomal Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract

Schistosoma! cor pulmonale (SCP) is a fatal pulmonary vascular complication of schistosomiasis, characterized by hypertrophy and/or dilatation of the right ventricle secondary to pulmonary hypertension. The pathogenesis of schistosoma! pulmonary hypertension (Sch PHT) is multifactorial including ova deposition, immune response through granuloma formation and immune-complex deposition in pulmonary vascular bed with subsequent vasculitis, and intravascular coagulalopathy with platelet activation and endothelial dysfunction in pulmonary vessels of schistosoma! patients. Previous studies tried vasodialators in SCP, but practically they did not prevent the progression of the disease. Immunosuppresents and corticosteroids were tried in SCP. They did not cause any clinical or haemodynamic improvement because of the well established irreversible fibrosis in pulmonary vasculatures.