Pros and cons of immunochemical and enzymatic method in the diagnosis of Wilson's disease.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Immunochemical method of measuring Ceruloplasmin (Cp) levels for the diagnosis of Wilson's disease has replaced enzymatic method for the main reason of being more sensitive and quantitative.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN:

In this study, we compared both the methods for various factors such as sensitivity, specificity and the time consumed in the diagnosis of Wilson's disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Serum samples from patients (n=33) with a provisional diagnosis of Wilson's disease were analyzed for Cp levels by enzymatic copper oxidase method and immunochemical method using polyclonal antibodies specific to Cp embedded in agar.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

Pearson's regression analysis was performed to compare the two methods.

RESULTS:

The mean Cp obtained by immunochemical method is 5.87 mm +/- 1.17 and by enzymatic method, it is 0.37 (Optical Density) +/- 0.136. Pearson's Regression analysis of the measurements showed a good correlation with an 'r' value of 0.765 between the two methods.

CONCLUSION:

A good correlation indicated that these two tests are comparable and thus both these methods can be used together for a definitive and better diagnosis of Wilson's disease.

• Authors: J V Gnanou, V G Thykadavil, V Thuppil
• Journal: Indian journal of medical sciences (Indian J Med Sci) Vol. 60 Issue 9 Pg. 371-5 (Sep 2006) ISSN: 0019-5359 [Print] India
• PMID: 16940686 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Oxidoreductases
• copper oxidase
• Ceruloplasmin

Topics

• Biological Assay
• Ceruloplasmin (analysis, metabolism)
• Feasibility Studies
• Hepatolenticular Degeneration (diagnosis, enzymology, immunology)
• Humans
• Immunochemistry
• Oxidoreductases (metabolism)
• Prospective Studies
• Sensitivity and Specificity