CIRCULATING ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN ECHINOCOCCOSIS BEFORE AND AFTER SURGICAL-TREATMENT

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (5) , 751-758
Abstract
Antibody [Ab] levels in 89 patients who were operated on for hydatid disease were studied over a period of 4 yr by complement fixation, latex agglutination, bentonite flocculation and passive hemagglutination tests. The geometric mean titers were much higher in patients with liver echinococcosis than in those whose lungs were affected. In the 1st mo. after operation, an increase in Ab level was observed more often in the former than in the latter. The raised level usually persisted for 3-6 mo. In 77 patients, the serological tests became negative 6 mo.-2 yr after operation or remained positive during the entire post-operative period. In the other 12 patients, who had recurrent echinococcosis, the tests did not become negative, although there was a reduction in Ab levels during the 1st and 2nd post-operative yr in 6 patients followed by a rise when the disease recurred. Ab levels remained high during the entire observation period in the other 6 patients. The prognosis can be considered favorable in patients with low pre-operative titers, or negative tests, provided the tests remain negative up to the end of the 1st yr after operation or become negative within 1 1/2 yr. Where there is only a small reduction in Ab titer, the prognosis may still be favorable if the decrease continues to fall up to the end of the 2nd yr. Since a drop in Ab titers occurred in certain cases with recurrent infection, an opinion on the prognosis should be deferred until the end of the 2nd yr. If the fall in Ab titers is followed by a steady rise or if they remain high or show slight fluctuations, a recurrence is almost certain.