title: Follow-up of anti-Aspergillus IgG and IgA antibodies in bone marrow transplanted patients with invasive aspergillosis.
abstract: A total of 89 patients at risk for, or with invasive aspergillosis (IA) were recruited from bone marrow transplantation (BMT) units in two Lisbon hospitals, and followed for 2(1/2) years to monitor their immune response. Of these patients, six developed probable IA, from which five died. The presence of serum IgG or IgA antibodies against seven Aspergillus recombinant antigens was assessed in patients with IA, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In parallel, the serum levels of galactomannan (GM) were also monitored, using the Platelia Aspergillus kit (Sanofi Pasteur, Marnes-la-Coquette, France). Superoxide dismutase (Sod) and 94 kDa were the most immunogenic antigens for IgA, while the IgG pattern of recognition changed from patient to patient. From our results we conclude that although follow-up of antibodies against these antigens should not be used as a diagnostic method, patients with IA do produce an immune response that may influence disease outcome.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. slima@ihmt.unl.pt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Centeno-Lima
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Lacerda
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: do Carmo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abecasis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casimiro
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Exposto
mesh_terms: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G