Determination of parasite-specific immunoglobulins using the ELISA in patients with echinococcosis treated with mebendazole.

Parasite-specific immunoglobulin classes were determined by the ELISA in sera of 19 patients with cystic or alveolar echinococcosis before and after 2 years (+/- 4 months) of continuous treatment with mebendazole at daily doses of 35-50 mg/kg body weight. In the majority of cases IgG decreased and IgA and IgE decreased or disappeared. In contrast, four patients with progressive disease showed reverse tendencies with increasing IgG, IgA and IgE concentrations during the same period.