title: Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction in the routine diagnosis for tegumentary leishmaniasis in a referral centre.
abstract: The present study investigated the diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed in parallel to conventional methods at an American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) referral centre for diagnosis. Accuracy parameters for PCR were calculated using 130 patients with confirmed ATL (ATL group), 15 patients established with other diseases and 23 patients with a lesion suggestive of ATL, but without parasitological confirmation (NDEF group). PCR showed 92.3% sensitivity, 93.3% specificity, a 99.2% positive predictive value and a 13.84 positive likelihood ratio. In the NDEF group, PCR confirmed ATL in 13 of the 23 patients, seven of whom responded to leishmaniasis treatment and six who presented spontaneous healing of the lesion. PCR should be included in the routine diagnostic procedures for ATL, especially for cases found to be negative by conventional methods.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. aline.fagundes@ipec.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagundes
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schubach
authors.forename: Cíntia Cristiane de
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogio
authors.forename: Liliane de Fátima
authors.initials: Lde F
authors.lastname: Antonio
authors.forename: Patrícia Botelho
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Schiavoni
authors.forename: Vivian de Souza
authors.initials: Vde S
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.forename: Leonardo Pereira
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Quintella
authors.forename: Claudia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Valete-Rosalino
authors.forename: Erica de Camargo Ferreira e
authors.initials: Ede C
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.forename: Rilza Beatriz Gayoso de
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Azeredo-Coutinho
authors.forename: Rachel S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Mauro C A
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marzochi
authors.forename: Keyla B F
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Marzochi
mesh_terms: D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan