Serological evaluation of specific-antibody levels in patients treated for chronic Chagas' disease.

ABSTRACT: Serological tests are the main laboratory procedures used for diagnosis during the indeterminate and chronic stages of Chagas' disease. A serological regression to negativity is the main criterion used to define parasitological cure in treated patients. The aim of this work was to monitor the individual specificities of antibody levels for 3 years posttreatment in 18 adult patients. Conventional serological techniques (hemagglutination assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) were modified by using recombinant antigens to detect early markers of treatment effectiveness. For this purpose, serum samples were taken before and during treatment and every 6 months after treatment for at least 3 years. When hemagglutination assays were used, a decrease in antibody levels was observed

SUBMITTER: Sanchez Negrette O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2238061 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature