Schistosomiasis is a prevalent health issue in numerous countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Data regarding the coinfection of schistosomiasis with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is limited, yet this coinfection is prevalent in regions where schistosomiasis is endemic. The extent of the coinfection issue is evident in countries with a high prevalence of both diseases, such as Egypt. Coinfections with schistosomiasis result in more pronounced liver damage compared with an HCV infection alone. Schistosomiasis has been found to disrupt HCV-specific T-cell responses, resulting in high viral load, increased likelihood of HCV chronicity, and accelerated development of comorbidities in individuals with coinfection. Introducing new, directly acting antivirals for HCV treatment resulted in a marked shift in the disease landscape. This shift may have an impact on the incidence of coinfection with schistosomiasis. This review …
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a component of visceral adiposity and mediates cardiac function and atherosclerosis via expression of several bioactive molecules. To evaluate the significance and relationship between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and familial dyslipidemia and left ventricular function. This prospective case–control study was conducted at Assiut University Children’s Hospital between September 2023 and August 2025. Twenty-one children with familial dyslipidemia and twenty-one age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy controls underwent clinical evaluation, lipid profile assessment, and transthoracic echocardiography, including measurement of epicardial fat thickness and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function according to American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. Dyslipidemic patients showed significantly higher total cholesterol (332.9±222.3 mg/dL), triglycerides (391.4±251.6 mg/dL), and LDL (154.3±130.4 mg/dL) than controls (p<0.001). Mixed hyperlipidemia was the most common type (47.6%). Echocardiography revealed increased epicardial fat thickness (2.88±0.94 mm vs. 2.29±0.57 mm; p=0.018), larger left atrial (21.45±3.86 mm; p=0.031) and aortic diameters (17.54±3.12 mm; p=0.013). Triglyceride level was the only independent predictor of epicardial fat thickness (β=0.437, p=0.028). Conclusion: Echocardiography revealed increased epicardial fat thickness and early cardiac remodeling. Serum triglycerides were the only independent predictor of EFT, suggesting its key role in subclinical cardiovascular risk among dyslipidemic children.
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