title: Contribution of specific anti-hydatid IgG subclasses in the diagnosis of echinococcosis primary infection and relapses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serological diagnosis of hydatid disease still faces problems of sensitivity, limiting its use to either diagnosis or post-surgical monitoring. The use of IgG subclasses seems to overcome these difficulties. The contribution of IgG subclasses was evaluated in the diagnosis of primary infested and hydatid cyst relapse patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of patients (n = 34) diagnosed for the first time with liver cystic echinococcosis (CE) and a group of patients with CE surgical recurrence were included. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay anti-hydatid antigens (HA) specific IgG1, 2, 3, and 4 subclasses were analyzed by ROC curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ROC curve analyses demonstrated that IgG4 had the ability to discriminate between primary infested and relapsed groups whereas IgG2 was not discriminatory. The sensitivity of IgG4 was statistically higher in the relapsed cases group (97.1% versus 70.6%, p = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  anti-HA specific IgG2 was the best marker of primary infestation whereas IgG4 was the best marker of relapse.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de recherche Parasitoses médicales, Biotechnologie & Biomolécules LR 11 IPT 06, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benabid
authors.forename: Yousr
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Galai
authors.forename: Ramzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nouira
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouchoucha
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouratbine
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoun
mesh_terms: D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G