[Comparative study of the human basophil degranulation test and total and specific IgE levels in schistosomiasis. 54 cases].

In 54 patients (45 Africans and 9 West-Indians) we searched schistosomiasis and the presence of immunoglobulins E by different tests (total immunoglobulin E levels, measurement of specific IgE, human basophil degranulation test). In patients with an excretion of living eggs we observed 91.6% of positive responses for the II. B. D. T. and 100% for the specific IgE. In cases only identified by examination of rectal mucosa biopsy specimens showing apparently living eggs, we observed 75% and 87.5% of positive responses for the same tests. But in both categories of patients, the parasitological examination is the most important. Moreover the authors observed "false-positive" and "false negative" tests compared with the parasitological results and between the tests. It suggests that the best use of these is in case of very probable schistosomiasis without positive parasitological results.