evidences of red cell haemolysis in bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly

The attribution of a haemolytic element to theanaemia in bilharziasis was proposed by many investi-gators. Erythrocyte sequestration in an enlarged bil-harzial spleen, membrane alterations due to coatingof the red cells with immunoglobulins and modulationof haemoglobin type by the schistosoma worm were allmechanisms postulated to explain the shortened redcell life span found in schistosomiasis.The hypothesis that the anaemia in schistoso_miasis might in part be related to a lesion of theerythrocyte membrane or the enzymes of the red cellsleading to shortened red cell life span was studiedin the present work.The study comprised 75 subjects, 25 as normalcontrols and 50 patients represented different groupshepatosplenic schistosomiasis. The bilharzialpatients were divided into five groupsI: Group of early active intestinal schistoso_miasis.II: Hepatomegalic group.Hepatosplenomegalic group.IV: Splenomegalic group.V: Group of advanced hepatic fibrosis withascites.