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Absence of Brain Involvement and Factors Related to Positive Serology in a Prospective Series of 61 Cases with Pulmonary Hydatid Disease

A prospective series of 65 patients with surgically confirmed lung cystic hydatid disease was evaluated in terms of their radiologic characteristics, serologic response, and presence of cysts in other organs. Cysts were mostly single and located in lower lung lobes. Liver compromise was found in 34% of the patients. Despite a systematic search, no patient showed brain cysts in this series. Twelve patients had previous hydatid disease: six in the liver and eight in the lung (two had involvement of both organs in the past). Serology using bovine cyst fluid in an immunoblot assay was 85% sensitive. Serologic response was not associated with number or cyst or compromise of other organs but was clearly associated to the presence of at least one complicated cyst. Cyst status in terms of complications should be described to allow appropriate assessment of serologic evaluations.

Received August 27, 2007. Accepted for publication February 8, 2008.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the medical personnel from the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Hospital Nacional Hipolito Unanue and the Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo for cooperation. We also appreciate the assistance and cooperation of personnel from The Cysticercosis Unit of Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurologicas.

Financial support: This study was funded by NIAID/NIH Grant P01AI051976, and Fogarty/NIH Grants DW43001140 and DW43006581.

^* Address correspondence to Hector H. Garcia, Department of Microbiology, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Av. H. Delgado 430, SMP, Lima 31, Peru. E-mail: hgarcia{at}jhsph.edu

Authors’ addresses: Saul J. Santivañez and Hector H. Garcia, Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av Honorio Delgado 430, Lima 31, Peru. Alfredo E. Sotomayor and José G. Somocurcio, Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hospital Nacional Hipolito Unanue, Lima, Peru. Julio C. Vasquez, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Program, Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Lima, Peru. Silvia Rodriguez, Cysticercosis Unit, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Jr Ancash 1271 Lima 01, Peru. Armando E. Gonzalez, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Robert H. Gilman, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Reprint requests: Hector H. Garcia, Department of Microbiology, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Av. H. Delgado 430, SMP, Lima 31, Peru, Tel: 511-3287360, Fax: 511-3284038, E-mail: hgarcia{at}jhsph.edu.