Schistosomiasis mansoni is a chronic parasitic liver disease characterised by a relative preservation of hepatic function, but there are early alterations in laboratory test results.^1–4 The rise in serum γ-glutamyltransferase (γGT) activity in patients with schistosomiasis does not correlate with either parasite load or ultrasonographic alterations.^5,6 We now report the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in these patients.

Eleven adults (nine men) with raised serum γGT activity and the “pure” form of schistosomiasis participated in the prospective study (eutrophic patients; body mass index > 20 and < 30 kg/m^{2 …}