Importance of E histolytica antigen in serodiagnosis and follow-up of patients with amoebic liver abscess

ABSTRACT

A community - based study was conducted on 200 apparently healthy individuals randomly chosen from rural areas. They were examined clinically, sonographically and parasitologically for E. histolytica cysts and by ELISA for circulating amebic antigen. They were negative for antigenemia at 1/16, which was considered the diagnostic titer of amebic hepatitis. A hospital - based study was carried out on 27 patients suffering from amebic liver abscess [ALA]. Circulating amebic antigen was detected in 66.66% of them before treatment, which decreased to 14.82% 2 months after treatment. There was no significant association between the diameter of the abscess and the level of circulating amebic antigen. It was concluded that the circulating amebic antigen may be useful for the diagnosis and follow up of amebic liver abscess patients