Determination of serum IgG level for Strongyloides stercoralis in cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

Strongyloides stercoralis is a helminth parasite that is predominantly endemic to the northeastern region of Thailand. Infection in people typically does not result in any noticeable symptoms. However, immunocompromised or immunodeficient patients, such as those with cancer, AIDS, or undergoing chemotherapy, are at risk of developing severe and potentially life-threatening forms of this parasite infection. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing IgG antibodies in serum are highly sensitive for diagnosing S. stercoralis infection. The objective of this study was to assess the serum IgG levels of S. stercoralis in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients and to analyze the correlation between IgG levels and clinical pathology, chemotherapy treatment status, and laboratory findings. The study found that among the 107 individuals with CCA, 34 (31.78%) tested positive for S. stercoralis, while 73 (68.22%) tested negative based on their serum IgG levels. Nevertheless, no statistically significant correlation was found between any of the analyzed factors, including the status of receiving chemotherapy treatment. This study indicated no significant impact of IgG antibody levels of S. stercoralis on the survival time of CCA patients. Additionally, no link was observed between IgG antibody levels and the severity of CCA in patients. It implies that there is no requirement for further testing on the past presence of S. stercoralis infection before starting chemotherapy in CCA patients. Nevertheless, this study focuses on measuring the concentration of antibodies rather than antigens. Further investigation of the antigen levels is necessary to validate the entirety of the data.