title: [Anti-F2/3 antibodies as cure marker in children with congenital Trypanosoma cruzi infection].
abstract: The F2/3 antigenic fraction isolated from Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes contains epitopes recognised by antibodies which are representative of active infection. The kinetics of disappearance of conventional serology (CS) and anti-F2/3 antibodies were compared in 21 patients with congenital Chagas disease after receiving benznidazole treatment. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (A) Age < 8 months at diagnosis; (B) Age > 9 months at diagnosis. Group A presented negative outcome for CS at 6.6 mo. (CI95 3.4-9.8 mo.) and for anti-F2/3 at 4 mo. (CI95 0.9-7.1 mo.), p = 0.18. Group B exhibited non-reactive CS at 63.1 mo. (CI95 42.1-84.2 mo.) whereas anti-F2/3 antibody determination became negative at 21.9 mo. (CI95 5.7-38.1 mo.), p = 0.0025. In patients belonging to group A, antibodies were undetectable by both CS and anti-F2/3 ELISA soon after receiving chemotherapy. In infants included into group B, a negative result for anti-F2/3 antibody detection significantly anticipated the disappearance of CS reactivity. Consequently, an anti-F2/3 antibody assay becoming negative should be considered as an early marker for assessment of cure, particularly in those patients with prolonged time of infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitología y Chagas y Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Gallo 1330, 1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina. jaltcheh@intramed.net.ar
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altcheh
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Biancardi
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Freilij
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015415:Biomarkers