PMID: 11604787Oct 18, 2001Paper

Knowledge-based interpretation of toxoplasmosis serology test results including fuzzy temporal concepts--the ToxoNet system

Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
Dieter KopeckyK P Adlassnig

Abstract

Transplacental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii from an infected, pregnant woman to the unborn that occurs with a probability of about 60 percent [1] results in fetal damage to a degree depending on the gestational age. The computer system ToxoNet processes the results of serological antibody tests having been performed during pregnancy by means of a knowledge base containing medical knowledge on the interpretation of Toxoplasmosis serology tests. By applying this knowledge ToxoNet generates interpretive reports consisting of a diagnostic interpretation and recommendations for therapy and further testing. For that purpose it matches the results of all serological investigations of maternal blood with the content of the knowledge base returning complete textual interpretations for all given findings. The interpretation algorithm derives the stage of maternal infection from these that is used to infer the degree of fetal threat. To consider varying immune responses of particular patients, certain time intervals have to be kept between two subsequent tests in order to guarantee a correct interpretation of the test results. These time intervals are modelled as fuzzy sets, since they allow the formal description of the temporal unc...Continue Reading

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