Synovial and serum immune complex subtypes and complement in bilharzial arthropathy

Abstract EN

Objective: To study the incidence and pattern of arthropathy associated with Schistosomiasis and its correlation with the presence and levels of circulating immune complexes.

Materials: Sixty young adult male patients with documented Schistosomal infestation comprised the material of this work.

Forty of them suffered from articular manifestations, and twenty had completely free musculoskeletal system, subjectively and objectively.

Results: Joint pain or tenderness existed for periods ranging from few days to several years (mean 9.4± 17.1 months).

Nine (22.5%) patients suffered from a combination of arthritis, and to a lesser degree enthesitis, 7 (17.5%) complained of symptoms of enthesitis alone, and 24 (60%) suffered from arthritis without an associated enthesitis.

Circulating immune complexes were positive in 34 (85%) patients with arthropathy, while they were positive in 7 (35%) Bilharzial patients without arthropathy.

There was qa significant statistical difference between the two groups.

(X12 =15.4).

IC containing IgM, IgG, IgA, and C3 were detected in patients with knee effusion Clq IC was not detected in synovial fluid.

As regard C3, There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups and between patients with bilharzial arthropathy and normal controls.

As regard C4, there was a statistically significant difference between patients with arthropathy and controls, but there was no significant difference between the arthritic and the non-arthritic groups.