![]() | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Salts of the cyclic secondary amine, piperazine, are the probable drugs of choice for treatment of worm infection in Egypt and elsewhere. The formation of a carcinogenic and/or mutagenic N-nitrosopiperazine derivatives in man was certainly proved. The high dose of piperazine used in ascariasis therapy (one gram daily for three successive days) rises the probability for the formation of these nitroso compounds in the treated patients. Therefore, the effect of piperazine on the activity levels of ribonucleases and adenosine deaminase were investigated. The total T-lymphocyte cell count and responsiveness to Con A as an index for their function was also investigated in these patients, since, a relationship between adenosine deaminase and the efficiency of the immune system was established. .Comparing with control subjects, a significant increased RNases activity level was encountered in ascariasis patients, which may be due to kidney dysfunction and/or malnutrition usually associated parasitic infection, in addition to the pathological lesions caused by either the larvae or the adult worm. |