Studies on immune complexes and IgE in patients presenting with hydatid disease at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Abstract
A prospective study on circulating immune complexes
(C.I.C.) and IgE in proven cases of human hydatidosis on
chemotherapy with albendazole was carried out on 18
patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi for a
period of 1 year.
Estimation of C.I.C.was done by precipitation of
immune complexes in sera by polyethylene glycol (PEG).
C.I.C.were present in 88.2 % of patients before
treatment. The difference in optical densities (O.D.)
between patient s and controls was found to be statistically
significant (p <...001). Serial C.I.C. before,
during and after treatment showed no particular trend
and statistical analysis of their differences were not
significant. Renal function before and 8 weeks after
treatment were normal. Double gel diffusion method
detected IgE in only 25% of patients and was found to
an, insensitive method for detecting IgE in sera. 54%
of patients had eosinophilia. Significant difference
was noted in eosinophil count between patient and controls
(p < .01). Significant difference was noted in
erythrocyte sedimentation rate between patient and
controls before chemotherapy (p = 0.05) and there was
a significant drop in erythrocyte sedimentation rate
8 weeks after chemotherapy (P<0.05).
Sera from majority of patients with hydatid diseaSe
at Kenyatta National Hospital, contain C.I.C.
Hydatid disease and the chemotherapeutic agent, albendazole
did not affect renal function. Erythrocyte
sedimentation rate may be potentially useful parameter
in assessing effective chemotherapy in Kenya hydatidosis
as judged from the present study.
Citation
Degree of Master of Medicine at the University of NairobiPublisher
School of Medicine
Description
A dissertation presented in part fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Medicine at the University of Nairobi