title: The value of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni myeloradiculopathy.
abstract: The role of serological tests on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the diagnosis of neuroschistosomiasis has not been fully elucidated; the condition is essentially diagnosed on the basis of circumstantial evidence, which may lead to an erroneous diagnosis, especially in highly endemic areas. We therefore carried out a prospective case-control study in which we compared the concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) specific for schistosome soluble egg antigen (SEA) present in the CSF of 54 patients with schistosomiasis mansoni myeloradiculopathy (SMMR) with those observed in a control group consisting of 41 patients with epidemiological and serological evidence of exposure to schistosomes, and with other neurological disorders that result in mild to moderate impairment of the blood-brain barrier. Anti-SEA IgG was estimated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were 56%, 95%, 94% and 62% respectively. Likelihood ratios and the corresponding post-test probabilities were determined for 4 levels of anti-SEA IgG in CSF. A value below 0.1 micrograms/mL practically excluded the possibility of SMMR (post-test probability < 5%), a value above 1.4 micrograms/mL practically confirmed the diagnosis of SMMR (post-test probability > 96%), values of 0.1 to 0.5 microgram/mL had no diagnostic value (post-test probability approximately 45%), and values of 0.6 to 1.4 micrograms/mL were useful in some situations (post-test probability approximately 70%). We conclude that the estimation of anti-SEA IgG in the CSF is useful for the diagnosis of SMMR.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gazzinelli
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G