ABSTRACT
Immunological monitoring of cystic hydatid patients undergoing medico-surgical management has revealed that it is possible to assess individual host responses throughout therapy and subsequently be guided by the results obtained. The analysis has involved the demonstration of variation in haemagglutination antibodies, specific IgG and IgM immunoglobulins and circulating immune complexes before, during, and months after albendazole therapy.
Subject(s)
Albendazole/therapeutic use , Echinococcosis/drug therapy , Echinococcosis/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Antibodies, Helminth/metabolism , Antigen-Antibody Complex/metabolism , Combined Modality Therapy , Echinococcosis/surgery , Echinococcus/immunology , Female , Hemagglutinins/metabolism , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/metabolism , Immunoglobulin M/metabolism , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Significant improvements in the health of patients with chronic multifocal abdominal hydatidosis, leading to recovery, have been observed after combined medico-surgical treatment. The benefits of massive surgical removal of cysts, accompanied by effective doses of albendazole, were assessed by the clinical, radiological, and immunological responses of individual patients. Variations in the levels of specific classes of immunoglobulins and circulating immunocomplexes provided additional measures of the state of host response and the persistence of parasitic activity.
