Serum antibodies in patients with alveolar echinococcosis before and after therapy.

Thirty-three patients with alveolar echinococcosis treated by surgery or with mebendazole were observed up to six years. Of three immunoassays (IgG ELISA, complement fixation, indirect haemagglutination) correlation with the clinical course was achieved by IgG ELISA only. Serum antibody levels tended to increase during the first year and decreased during the second year after therapy had been started, Long persisting antibody was most sensitively indicated by indirect haemagglutination.