Clinical Study

Serum Cytokine Profile by ELISA in Patients with Echinococcal Cysts of the Liver: A Stage-Specific Approach to Assess Their Biological Activity

Table 1

Distribution of positive samples for IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-13 in the different groups analyzed (patients/controls, stage, number, location, and size of the cyst, serology, and sex of patients). *Difference statistically significant ( value < 0.05); the remaining differences are not significant.

GroupTotalIFN-γ positiveIL-4 positiveIL-13 positive
no.no.%no.%no.%

Total subjects731317.81216.41013.7
 Controls20525525210
 Patients53815.1713.2815.1

Cyst stage
 CE1-25001 1
 CE3a8337.5450337.5
 CE3b204201500
 CE4-5201515420

Cyst number
 146715.2613613
 27114.3114.3228.6

Cyst liver location
 Right segment41614.6717.1614.6
 Left segment51200000
 IV segment7114.300228.6

Cyst size
 Small1715.9211.815.9
 Medium27518.5414.8622.2
 Large9222.2111.1111.1

Serology
 Positive29620.7620.7413.8
 Negative19210.500210.5
 Doubtful500120240

Sex
 Male25416520416
 Female28414.327.1414.3