A study of immune profile in human hydatid diseases

A clinico haematological and immunological study was undertaken in 90 patients clinically suspected to be suffering from hydatid disease over a period of 1 year. The parameters studied included age of presentation, site of cyst localisation, haematological profile, total immunoglobins of different classes (IgG, IgM, IgA & IgE) and complement component C3, rosette forming lymphocytes, blast cell formation in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA-P) and concanavalin A (Con-A) and casoni test using standard methods. Twenty two out of 90 (22.44%) clinically suspected patients were surgically confirmed as hydatid disease cases. Hydatid disease occured in all age groups. Youngest case was 8 years and oldest 70 years. In 17/22 cases the cyst localised in the liver followed by lungs (3) neck (1) and kidney (1). Majority of patients (63.65%) belonged to blood group B. The mean total leucocyte and eosinophill counts were raised significantly (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively) in confirmed patients. The mean ESR value was raised in hydatid patients though, not significantly (P > 0.08). All the four classes of immunoglobulins viz. IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE and complement C3 were significantly raised in patients of hydatid disease compared to controls (P < 0.001, P < 0.002, p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, P < 0.02 respectively). The percentage of lymphocytes in peripheral blood in hydatid patients was reduced though, not significantly (P > 0.2). The absolute lymphocyte count was raised and mean percentage of T cells was reduced in patients with hydatid disease (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)