Lassa Fever Immune Plasma

Lassa virus was isolated at USAMRIID from 27 patients. Of these, 14 isolations were from patients seen the previous year but tested only recently. Serological testing has lagged somewhat, and not all specimens have been titered to their end points. Thus, the incidence of LF diagnosed virologically and serologically cannot be calculated at present. Passive immunotherapy with LFIP was reported in 15 cases. Of these, four were instances of definite LF and one of possible LF. Two recipients died, both pregnant women who had received LFIP after the 10th day of illness. We expect to begin shortly the use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of LF; with this laboratory assistance it should be possible to diagnose and treat all and only LF patients, with the more rational use of the scarce LFIP resource, and the greater likelihood of determining the treatment's efficacy. Keywords: Lassa fever; ELISA; Diagnosis medicine. (kt)