Strongyloides stercoralis infection alters liver enzymes levels in alcoholic patients

Abstract

Introduction. Strongyloides stercoralis infection can develop into a severe and life-threatening condition in high-risk groups, as alcoholics. However, few studies assess the effect of these comorbidities on the individuals’ health.
Objective. To evaluate hematological, biochemical and hepatic biomarkers and the production of total IgE in alcoholic patients infected with S. stercoralis.
Materials and methods. This is a case-controlled study with 240 alcoholic patients, 60 infected and 180 non-infected with S. stercoralis. Blood biomarkers evaluation was performed by automated methods, commercial kits or nephelometry.
Results. A high frequency of alcoholics with a low hemoglobin content was observed, but there was no difference between the infected and non-infected groups, 65.0 (39/60) and 62.8% (113/180), respectively. Eosinophilia frequency, 58.3 (35/60) and 26.1% (47/180), and the total IgE concentration, 2,882 and 1,400 IU/mL, were significantly higher (p<0.05) in S. stercoralis-infected than in non-infected individuals. ALT and AST levels were high in both groups compared to the reference values. However, in the infected group, lower AST levels and a smaller frequency of individuals with high ALT levels were found, 61.5±38.4 as compared to 84.3±84.6 U/L, and 26.7% (16/60) as compared to 40.5% (73/180), respectively. Also, AST levels were higher in individuals with a parasite load above 100 larvae/g of feces compared to those with less than 10 larvae/g of feces, 90.80 ± 39.9 and 56.42 ± 31.9 U/L (p<0.05), respectively. A similar result was found for ALT.
Conclusions. This study showed lower liver enzyme level alterations in S. stercoralis-infected alcoholic as compared to non-infected alcoholic patients, which may depend on the parasite load.