[The interferon status in helminthiases. 1. Human unilocular hydatid disease]

In 51 patients with Echinococcus granulosus infection, blood IF alpha and IF gamma levels were measured using vesicular stomatitis virus culture. In patients with progressing disease, the IF alpha and IF gamma levels were significantly lower than in the benign form of the disease--144 +/- 28.8 and 51.6 +/- 10.1 U/ml, respectively (in healthy controls the levels were 1024 +/- 28.8 and 187.7 +/- 16.9 U/ml). The lowest levels of IF alpha and IF gamma were found in patients with primary localization of cysts in the lungs and multiorgan damages affecting the lungs--160 +/- 38.5 and 44.4 +/- 13.5 U/ml; 146.7 +/- 80.1 and 89.5 +/- 19.2 U/ml, respectively. After 5-6 thirty-day courses of mebendazole therapy (50 mg/kg body weight) at 30-day intervals, the average levels of IF alpha and IF gamma were 4 and 5 times higher. Measurement of IF levels in echinococcosis may be of prognostic value for the estimation of the efficacy of surgical and/or specific treatment.