An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-M.tuberculosis antigens for diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis

ABSTRACT

IgG antibodies to M.tuberculosis antigens were measured by ELISA directly in 51 pairs of sera and pericardial fluids taken from 51 patients with pericarditis at the time of diagnosis. Patients with pericarditis due to tuberculosis have significantly higher level of IgG antibodies in both sera and pericardial fluid than that of the patients with pericarditis due to the other causes and than that of normal, healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 84.2% and 88.5%, respectively. The positive and negative accordance of it was 80 and 90.3%