Autoantibodies in human cystic echinococcosis

Abstract

Background and Objective: autoimmune phenomena in patients with cystic echinococcosis have been described by several authors. However, little is known about the autoantibodies that may be associated with cystic echinococcosis in Erbil. This study was undertaken to investigate the association of some autoantiboies with cystic echinococcosis in Erbil. Thirty four patients (12 males and 22 female) with surgically confirmed cystic echinococcosis and 15 healthy individuals were included in this study. ELISA kits were employed for detection of both IgG and IgM antibodies against cardiolipin and phospholipids in addition to detect anti- dsDNA IgG antibodies in the sera of the studied subjects, while latex agglutination test was employed to detect rheumatoid factor. The levels of anti-cardiolipin IgG and IgM antibodies in cystic echinococcosis patients were 7.65±1.02 GPL and 7.74±1.11 MPL, respectively and highly significantly (P< 0.001) elevated as compared to control group. Both IgG (8.12±1.2 AEU) and IgM (7.93±1.14 AEU) antibodies of antiphospholipids were also highly significantly (P<0.001) increased in cystic echinococcosis patients. However, in respect to the involved organs, gender and age groups, these autoantibodies were non-signifecantly affected. In contrast, the levels of anti-dsDNA and rheumatoid factors were non-significantly altered.
Conclusion: The levels of anti-cardiolipin and anti-phospholipid antibodies were significantly increased in cystic echinococcosis patients suggesting a significant association of cystic echinococcosis with these autoreactive antibodies.