Platelet functions in lymphatic filariasis patients.

Filariasis is a chronic disease where parasitic worms survive in human hosts even for decades and lead to complications like lymphedema and elephantiasis. Despite the persistent existence of filarial parasites in human hosts, fatal and thrombotic complications are not known, unlike other parasitic diseases like malaria. This suggests that filarial parasites might be affecting the host's platelet functions. This study was conducted to examine platelet functions in confirmed filariasis patients and healthy controls. Results showed that filariasis patients had larger platelets, inhibited aggregation, and slower speed of aggregation, compared to controls. However, in vivo markers of platelet activation and degranulation (beta thromboglobulin and soluble P-selectin) were not affected. Observations suggested that there is increased platelet turnover, cellular apoptosis and inhibited platelet functions in filariasis patients compared to controls. Platelet function inhibition was not associated with the duration of disease, lymphedema-affected organs, or gender of patients. This study confirms that filarial parasites modulate platelet functions in human hosts. Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Sushil Surtani, Jyotsna Kailashiya, Mumtaz Ahmad Ansari, Debabrata Dash, Awadesh Kumar Yadav, Ashutosh Kumar. Platelet functions in lymphatic filariasis patients. Microvascular research. 2024 Mar;152:104642

Mesh Tags

PMID: 38070864

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