Patients with positive serology for chagas disease versus molecular exams in a quaternary northwest hospital

• Main Author: Furini, Adriana Antônia da Cruz
• Publication Date: 2020
• Other Authors: Rossi, Bárbara Ellen Magalhães Batista, Cogo, Thessa Beatriz Oliveira, Oliveira, Maria Gabriela Lucca, Cavanisi, Carlos Eugênio, Godoy, Moacir Fernandes
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Educação e Saúde
• Download full: https://www.gvaa.com.br/revista/index.php/REBES/article/view/5611
• topic: American trypanosomiasis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Immunological examinations; Tripanossomíase americana; Reação da polimerase em Cadeia; Exames imunológicos

Chagas' disease (DC) is an endemic parasitic disease in the South American countries caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite the diagnostic advances and the use of molecular and serological techniques, many cases of false negative results are reported. The present study aimed to analyze the clinical and epidemiological profile of 21 patients with molecular and serological tests for CD. A retrospective study was carried out in the medical records of the São José do Rio Preto Base Hospital of patients with a qualitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test performed from January 2010 to April 2015. Twelve patients had confirmatory tests for DC whereas ten patients had negative serology and PCR and were asymptomatic for DC. The comparison parameters obtained for the tests were: sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 47.37%, accuracy of 52.38%, positive predictive value of 10%, negative predictive value of 90.91%. The standardization of techniques with high sensitivity and specificity, without excessive costs may constitute an important tool for the confirmatory diagnosis of CD, especially in asymptomatic cases.