In a diagnostic test study the validity of three serodiagnostic test was compared in patients with liver echinococcosis

• Published in: Journal of clinical epidemiology Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 401 - 406
• Main Authors: Manterola, Carlos, Cuadra, Álvaro, Muñoz, Sergio, Sanhueza, Antonio, Bustos, Luis, Vial, Manuel, Fonseca, Flery
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2005; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Bile Ducts - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Blotting, Western - methods; Classification; Comparative study; Cysts; Diagnosis; Diseases caused by cestodes; Echinococcoses; Echinococcosis; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - diagnosis; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - immunology; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - pathology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Enzymes; Epidemiology; Female; Helminth; Helminthic diseases; hepatic; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoprecipitation - methods; Infectious diseases; Liver; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Molecular weight; Parasitic diseases; Sensitivity; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests; Specificity; Validity; Serologic tests; Helminth; Sensitivity; Specificity; Immunoglobulin G; Classification; Antibodies; hepatic; Diagnosis; Comparative study; Blood; Echinococcosis; Liver; Serology; Cestoda; Immunoprecipitation reaction; Immunoblotting assay; Echinococciasis; Public health; Echinococcus granulosus; Human; Antibody; Plathelmintha; Parasitosis; Helminthiasis; Cestode disease; Infection; Helmintha; Digestive diseases; Technique; Invertebrata; ELISA assay
• ISSN: 0895-4356; 1878-5921
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2004.10.009

To determine the efficacy of immunoprecipitation (DD5), enzyme immunoanalysis (ELISA-IgG), and immunoelectrotransference or Western blot (WB) in patients with liver echinococcosis (LE) used separately, in parallel and in series. Diagnostic test study. DD5, ELISA-IgG, and WB were applied in 75 patients with LE and 75 with cholelithiasis. Surgery was considered a reference standard. The sample size was calculated assuming a 99% confidence interval (99% CI), expected sensitivity (S) of 90% and a worst result of 80%; expected specificity (SP) of 95% and a worst result of 85%. S, SP, and predictive values (PPV and NPV) were calculated. The best S was verified with ELISA-IgG and WB (82.7%) and the best SP with DD5 (94.7%). DD5 presented a better PPV (92.9%) and WB a better NPV (83.5%). When applying the tests in parallel, the best S was obtained from the combination of DD5 and WB (82.7%); and the best SP, PPV and NPV with ELISA-IgG and WB (88.0%, 87.3%, and 83.5%, respectively). DD5 appears as the most specific test and as having greater PPV; ELISA-IgG and WB are more sensitive. The combined use of these tests does not improve diagnosis validity.