Low IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α and High IL-13 Cytokine Levels Are Associated with Severe Hepatic Fibrosis in Schistosoma mansoni Chronically Exposed Individuals

Table 1

Characteristics of study participants, by degree of hepatic fibrosis.

Characteristics	Group 0	Group I; = 59	Group II; = 43	Group III; =31	value
Median age, in yrs (IQR)	28 (16–42)	29 (17–40)	38 (34–46)	39 (28–46)	0.00
Sex, n (%)
Male	44 (50.6)	21 (24.1)	15 (17.2)	7 (8.1)
Female	67 (42.7)	38 (24.2)	28 (17.8)	24 (15.3)	0.38
Intensity of infection, (%)
Light	29 (46.0)	17 (27.0)	10 (15.8)	7 (11.1)
Moderate	16 (50.0)	6 (18.7)	5 (15.6)	5 (15.6)
Heavy	14 (73.7)	3 (15.8)	2 (10.5)	0 (0.0)	0.43
PVD, mean ± SEM					0.00

The groups were defined and categorized based on liver image pattern as stated in Materials and Methods. Intensity of infection is based on 114 S. mansoni ova positive participants and this was graded according to the WHO criteria [24]. PVD is the portal vein diameter.