[Precision of ELISA-IgE and ELISA-IgG determination in the postoperative follow-up of patients with hepatic echinococcosis].
BACKGROUND
Follow-up of patients undergoing surgery for hepatic echinococcosis (HE) is essential to ensure the absence of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the behavior over time of specific IgG and IgE to Echinococcus granulosus determined by the ELISA technique (ELISA-IgG and ELISA-IgE) in patients undergoing surgery for HE.


METHODS
We performed a concurrent cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for HE between 1994 and 2003 in the Regional Hospital of Temuco, Chile. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was performed in patients with a minimum follow-up of 48 months and annual qualitative determinations of ELISA-IgE and ELISA-IgG. Descriptive statistics were applied, with calculation of percentages, medians, and extreme values.


RESULTS
Fifty-two patients were studied, of whom 38 (73.1%) were women. The median age was 40 years (16 to 75 years). Most of the patients had a single cyst (34 patients, 65.4%); the median cystic diameter was 12 cm. In 35 (67.3%) patients, biliary communications were found. Progressive negativization of ELISA-IgE and ELISA-IgG was observed, reaching 98% and 84% in the fourth year of follow-up respectively. Erratic behavior of ELISA-IgG was detected, with a change from negative to positive in 11% of the patients, none of whom had radiological or ultrasonographic evidence of cysts in the thorax or abdomen.


CONCLUSIONS
A high percentage of negativization of ELISA-IgE was observed. The erratic behavior of ELISA-IgG is difficult to interpret.
Manterola
Carlos
C
Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. cmantero@ufro.cl
Vial
Manuel
M
Schneeberger
Pilar
P
Peña
Juan Luis
JL
Hinostroza
Jaime
J
Sanhueza
Antonio
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E