Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Feb 2010)

Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction in the routine diagnosis for tegumentary leishmaniasis in a referral centre

  • Aline Fagundes,
  • Armando Schubach,
  • Cíntia Cristiane de Paula,
  • Alessandra Bogio,
  • Liliane de Fátima Antonio,
  • Patrícia Botelho Schiavoni,
  • Vivian de Souza Monteiro,
  • Maria de Fátima Madeira,
  • Leonardo Pereira Quintella,
  • Claudia Maria Valete-Rosalino,
  • Erica de Camargo Ferreira e Vasconcellos,
  • Rilza Beatriz Gayoso de Azeredo-Coutinho,
  • Rachel S Pacheco,
  • Mauro CA Marzochi,
  • Keyla BF Marzochi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762010000100018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 105, no. 1
pp. 109 – 112

Abstract

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The present study investigated the diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed in parallel to conventional methods at an American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) referral centre for diagnosis. Accuracy parameters for PCR were calculated using 130 patients with confirmed ATL (ATL group), 15 patients established with other diseases and 23 patients with a lesion suggestive of ATL, but without parasitological confirmation (NDEF group). PCR showed 92.3% sensitivity, 93.3% specificity, a 99.2% positive predictive value and a 13.84 positive likelihood ratio. In the NDEF group, PCR confirmed ATL in 13 of the 23 patients, seven of whom responded to leishmaniasis treatment and six who presented spontaneous healing of the lesion. PCR should be included in the routine diagnostic procedures for ATL, especially for cases found to be negative by conventional methods.

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