[Significance of antigenemia and IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE antibodies in the immunology of hydatid cyst. Results of immuno-enzymology. Apropos of 87 cases].

Circulation antigen and sera antibodies were measured in 122 sera obtained from 87 patients with proved hydatic echinococcosis: the sera were obtained before and after surgical treatment. Circulating antigen was detected by E. L. I. S. A., and was present in 21% of the sera. Antibodies were present by conterimmunoelectrophoresis in 56%, by haemagglutination in 72%, E. L. I. S. A. IgG in 87%, E. L. I. S. A. IgM in 54%, E. L. I. S. A. IgA in 53%, E. L. I. S. A. IgE in 25% of the sera. No evident correlations between these results and the localisation could be found, nor with anatomical integrity of the cyst, or the surgical treatment date. Only the presence of IgE or circulating antigen could suggest the high level passage of hydatic proteins, bringing to mind a fissuration of the cyst wall.