Detection of circulating antigen by McAb-AST for evaluating the efficacy of anti-Leishmania chemotherapy.
We have adapted the simple and sensitive McAb-antigen spot test (AST) for evaluating the efficacy of anti-Leishmania chemotherapy. Serum samples from 37 kala-azar patients were tested by McAb-AST, and all showed definite positive reactions before treatment. After a course of antimony treatment, 20 turned negative, coupled with the disappearance of clinical symptoms; another 12 cases responded with weak positivity accompanied by an improvement of clinical manifestations; and the remaining 5 antimony-resistant patients showed strong positive reactions, with their conditions gradually worsening. Furthermore, all 6 cases in which the diagnosis was missed by the bone marrow smear method turned McAb-AST negative after chemotherapy. These results suggest that McAb-AST can be used to evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy as well as to avoid missed diagnosis by the bone marrow smear method.
Hu
X
X
Laboratory of Parasitology, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan.
Lin
F
F
Kan
B
B
Yan
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate