ANTIBODY PERSISTENCE AFTER SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ECHINOCOCCOSIS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 53  (4) , 407-415
Abstract
Studies on the persistence and levels of antibodies in 280 patients at different intervals following surgery for echinococcosis are described. Post-operative antibody levels were investigated by means of 4 immunodiagnostic methods, namely, the complement fixation, latex agglutination, indirect hemagglutination and intradermal tests. After surgical removal of the cysts the tests became negative in some patients, whereas in others they remained positive for many years. As the post-operative period increased, the percentage of positive results fell and this fall was faster in lung echinococcosis than in liver echinococcosis. The titers obtained with the serological tests decreased at the same rate as the percentage of positive results, but the intradermal test remained positive, with an unchanged titer, for many years. In the case of secondary echinococcosis, medium and high titers predominated in all the tests. These immunological investigations during the post-operative period make it possible to evaluate the results of surgery and, to some extent, clarify the prognosis.