Igor Silvestre Bruscky1, Fábio Lopes de Melo2, Zulma Maria de Medeiros3, Flávia Falcão Albuquerque4, Leandro Batista Wanderley2, Carolina da Cunha-Correia5. 1. School of Medicine, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. 2. Aggeu Magalhaes Research Center/FIOCRUZ, Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. 3. University of Pernambuco, Aggeu Magalhaes Research Center/FIOCRUZ, Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. 4. Pernambuco Center for Neurological Diagnosis, Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. 5. Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. Electronic address: carolina.dra@gmail.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord schistosomiasis is a neglected, disabling neurological disease commonly identified in patients from northeast Brazil. The methods currently available for its diagnosis need improvement. PCR in feces and urine is a sensitive diagnostic tool for diagnosis of schistosomiasis, but its value in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to detect Schistosoma mansoni DNA in CSF from patients with spinal cord schistosomiasis, using the nested PCR (NPCR) assay. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from March 2013 to January 2014 at the Aggeu Magalhães Research Center/FIOCRUZ (Pernambuco state, Brazil). NPCR was used to detect Schistosoma mansoni DNA in CSF samples from 20 patients with spinal cord schistosomiasis and 30 controls. RESULTS: NPCR was positive in 16 patients with spinal cord schistosomiasis and none from the control group (sensitivity 80%; specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%; negative predictive value 88.2%). CONCLUSION: The NPCR technique is highly sensitive and specific for diagnosis of spinal cord schistosomiasis and can be an important diagnostic tool, particularly in cases with negative CSF serology.
INTRODUCTION:Spinal cord schistosomiasis is a neglected, disabling neurological disease commonly identified in patients from northeast Brazil. The methods currently available for its diagnosis need improvement. PCR in feces and urine is a sensitive diagnostic tool for diagnosis of schistosomiasis, but its value in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to detect Schistosoma mansoni DNA in CSF from patients with spinal cord schistosomiasis, using the nested PCR (NPCR) assay. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out from March 2013 to January 2014 at the Aggeu Magalhães Research Center/FIOCRUZ (Pernambuco state, Brazil). NPCR was used to detect Schistosoma mansoni DNA in CSF samples from 20 patients with spinal cord schistosomiasis and 30 controls. RESULTS: NPCR was positive in 16 patients with spinal cord schistosomiasis and none from the control group (sensitivity 80%; specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%; negative predictive value 88.2%). CONCLUSION: The NPCR technique is highly sensitive and specific for diagnosis of spinal cord schistosomiasis and can be an important diagnostic tool, particularly in cases with negative CSF serology.
Authors: Abdulrahman Hamad Al-Abdulwahhab; Abdulaziz Mohammad Al-Sharydah; Sari Saleh Al-Suhibani; Saeed Ahmad Al-Jubran; Ali Khalaf Al-Haidey; Abdulkhaliq Ibrahim Al-Hifzi; Wissam Al-Issawi Journal: Patient Saf Surg Date: 2018-10-06