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

AbstractBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.
AuthorsCarlos Manterola, Alvaro Cuadra, Sergio Muñoz, Antonio Sanhueza, Luis Bustos, Manuel Vial, Flery Fonseca (Affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Regional de Temuco, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile. cmantero at ufro.cl)
JournalJournal of clinical epidemiology (J Clin Epidemiol) Vol. 58 Issue 4 Pg. 401-6 (Apr 2005) ISSN: 0895-4356 England
PMID15862726 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Validation Studies)
Chemical References
  • Immunoglobulin G
Topics
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bile Ducts (pathology)
  • Blotting, Western (methods)
  • Echinococcosis, Hepatic (diagnosis, immunology, pathology)
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G (blood)
  • Immunoprecipitation (methods)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serologic Tests