Do the filarial lymphoedema patients''3 months recall' on acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) correlate with streptococcal serology?

AIM: The aim of this study was to know the correlation of patients' 3 months recall on acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA) with anti-streptolysin O (ASO) serology and its application as a tool to know the burden of ADLA in the community.

METHODS

Fifty-nine lymphoedema (LE) patients and 27 age matched controls were clinically assessed for LE and the occurrence of ADLA during the previous 3 months was obtained by recall. After obtaining the informed consent, 2 mL of venous blood sample was collected and ASO was quantified in Olympus AU400 auto-analyzer.

RESULTS

When the results were computed as two groups, controls and LE patients with no reported ADLA and LE patients with reported ADLA (by 3 months recall), the ASO positivity and ASO titre was significantly higher in the later group (P < 0.05). When the results were computed as three groups, controls with no reported ADLA, LE patients with no reported ADLA and LE patients with reported ADLA, the ASO titre was significantly higher in LE patients reported ADLA (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

As ASO was measured in post-infection phase, we relied on the ASO titre for making conclusion. Patients' 3 months recall on ADLA correlates with the ASO titre and therefore, it could be considered as a tool to measure the burden of ADLA in the community. Multicentre community-based studies are needed to ascertain the findings.