Figure 3.

TIMP-1 produced in response to Schistosoma japonicum egg antigen predicts fibrosis 1 year after praziquantel (PZQ) treatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from S. japonicum–infected individuals aged 7–30 years, collected at 1 month after PZQ treatment, were stimulated with egg antigen, and FibroPlex analytes were measured in supernatants with a multiplexed assay. Antigen-specific TIMP-1 levels (evaluated as detectable or not detectable) were analyzed for their relationship with hepatic fibrosis measured by ultrasound 1 year after PZQ treatment. Potential confounders included baseline grade of liver fibrosis, age, socioeconomic status, cumulative water contact, egg count at baseline and 1 year after treatment, and hepatitis B antigenemia. Results presented are stratified by sex. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.