title: [Evaluation of (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in aspergillosis and cryptococcosis].
abstract: (1-3)-beta-D-Glucan (beta-glucan) is a major structural component of fungi. The G test is a direct method to detect beta-glucan using fractionated (1-3)-beta-D-glucan-sensitive component, factor G, eluted from the limulus lysate. Previously, we reported that the G test is a more sensitive method than the mannan detection assay for the serological diagnosis of Candida infection. In this study, we discuss beta-glucanemia in patients with pulmonary aspergillosis and cryptococcosis. The concentration of beta-glucan was less than 10 pg/ml in 9 of 10 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis, except for one case receiving hemodialysis (16.5 pg/ml). beta-Glucan increased in 3 cases of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (27-937 pg/ml). Galactomannan antigen was positive in all of those cases. In 8 cases of aspergilloma, which showed fungus ball on roentgenogram, the mean concentration of beta-glucan was 67.1 +/- 92.7 pg/ml. Two of 8 cases were positive for galactomannan antigen. One of three cases of PAIC (productive aspergilloma on the inner wall of a cavity) and one case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis showed slightly increased levels of beta-glucan and positive results of galactomannan antigen test.
authors.affiliation: Second Department Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsutake
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maesaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaku
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005936:Glucans / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D047071:beta-Glucans
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005936:Glucans; D008351:Mannans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C012990:galactomannan; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan; D005690:Galactose