This study was done to evaluate PCR with Ld1 primers for the diagnosis of Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and to assess its role in prediction of the disease outcome. The PCR assay was performed with DNA isolated from the peripheral blood of parasitologically confirmed cases of VL before the initiation of treatment, just after the end of treatment, and at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. The pretreatment PCR result was positive for 100 of 101 patients (sensitivity, 99%; confidence interval [CI], 94 to 100%). None of the 150 negative controls tested were PCR positive (specificity, 100%; CI, 96.8 to 100%). Of 60 patients who were treated at our center, 51 (85%; CI, 73 to 93%) became negative immediately after treatment and continued to be negative at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. At the 3-month follow-up, two of the remaining nine patients were PCR positive, making 58 (96.7%; CI, 87 to 100%) patients PCR negative. At the 6-month follow-up, all patients became PCR negative. One patient who was PCR negative immediately after the end of treatment relapsed 11 months later. This limited prospective study with VL patients suggests that the PCR assay is a highly sensitive and specific (99% and 100%, respectively) tool for the diagnosis of VL. In the majority of patients, it can identify a successful disease outcome; however, its translation into the field setting remains a major challenge.The diagnosis of visceral leishmaiasis (VL; kala-azar) rests upon the demonstration of parasites in splenic or bone marrow smears. Although the splenic smears are highly sensitive (Ͼ95%), the recovery of splenic tissue carries the risk of serious or fatal hemorrhage, while the sensitivity of bone marrow smears is unsatisfactory (13, 16). Culture of the aspirates might improve the sensitivity; but it is expensive and needs expertise and sophisticated equipment and, thus, is seldom used for routine clinical diagnosis (7, 16). The antibody-based diagnostics, like the direct agglutination test or rK39-based rapid immunochromatographic test, are highly sensitive; but they remain positive well beyond the time of cure, thus limiting their use for the diagnosis of relapses or reinfections (4, 17). Moreover, they also detect asymptomatic infections in areas of endemicity (15). In all forms of leishmaniasis, including VL, a sterile cure does not occur and it necessitates the definition of a cure by the use of clinical as well as parasitological parameters. Patients with VL are said to have achieved an "initial cure" at the end of treatment if there is resolution of fever, a reduction in spleen size, and the absence of parasites in splenic smears (5, 12). However, a few patients with an "initial cure" may relapse, and the majority of these do so within 6 months. Thus, for a patient to be defined as having a "final cure," the patient with an "initial cure" must remain free of signs or symptoms at the 6-month follow-up (5,12,14).Recently, PCR assays with primers which amplify kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) have been evaluated for the diagnosis of VL and have ...
We evaluated the direct agglutination test (DAT), using freeze-dried (FD) and aqueous (AQ) antigen, and the rK39 immunochromatographic strip test in the diagnosis of Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Sera from 508 subjects (150 parasitologically confirmed patients with VL, 100 and 153 healthy controls drawn from non-endemic and endemic regions, respectively, and 105 patients with other diseases presenting with fever and/or splenomegaly) were tested. The sensitivity of the tests were as follows: DAT (FD), 96% (95% CI 91-98); DAT (AQ), 97% (95% CI 93-99); rK39 strip test, 99% (95% CI 95-100). The specificity of DAT (FD), DAT (AQ) and rK39 strip tests were 85% (95% CI 81-88), 87% (95% CI 83-91) and 89% (95% CI 86-92), respectively. A significant correlation (high degree of agreement) was observed between all tests (kappa>0.80). We conclude that the sensitivity of FD antigen is comparable to that of AQ antigen. Similarly, the rK39 strip test is as sensitive as the DAT, but the strip test's greater convenience of use makes it a better tool for diagnosis of VL in peripheral areas of endemic regions.
Background:Men with premature androgenetic alopecia (AGA) are found to be susceptible to cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome (MS), diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and also premature baldness can have a definite negative impact on self-image and self-esteem in these patients. The aim of this study was to assess the strength of association between MS and/or insulin resistance (IR) in males with early-onset AGA.Methods:A total of 50 male patients with premature AGA and equal number of age-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured for all the participants. Association of IR and MS was evaluated.Results:Most common grade of hair loss was Grade IIIa (32%) of Hamilton–Norwood Scale of hair loss. Five out of 50 cases (10%) and 2 out of 50 controls (4%) had shown association with IR and the difference between the groups was statistically insignificant (P=0.23). Fifteen out of 50 cases (30%) and 4 out of 50 controls had shown association with MS and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P=0.005).Conclusion:Male patients with early-onset AGA were not associated with IR. MS was associated with male patients with early-onset AGA. The results observed in our study may raise awareness in susceptible individuals that lifestyle changes in early life can reduce the risk of coronary heart diseases in the long term.
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