Strongyloides stercoralis infection alters liver enzyme levels in alcoholic patients

Introduction: Strongyloides stercoralis infection can develop into a severe and lifethreatening condition in high-risk groups, such as alcoholics. However, few studies assess the effect of these comorbidities on patients’ health. Objective: To evaluate hematological, biochemical and hepatic biomarkers and the production of total immunoglobulin E in alcoholic patients infected with S. stercoralis. Materials and methods: This was a case-control study involving 240 alcoholic patients, 60 infected and 180 non-infected with S. stercoralis. Evaluation of blood biomarkers was performed using automated methods, commercial kits, or nephelometry. Results: A high frequency of low hemoglobin content was observed among alcoholics, but there was no significant difference between the infected and non-infected groups, 65.0% (39/60) and 62.8% (113/180), respectively. The frequency of eosinophilia, 58.3 % (35/60) and 26.1% (47/180) and the total immunoglobulin E concentration, 2882 and 1400 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, the infected group presented lower AST levels, 61.5 ± 38.4 and 84.3 ± 84.6 U/L, and a lower frequency of individuals with high ALT levels, 26.7% (16/60) and 40.5% (73/180), respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, 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 fewer alterations in liver enzyme levels in S. stercoralis infected alcoholic patients compared to non-infected alcoholic patients, an effect that may depend on the parasite load.