[Investigation of beta-D-glucan values in the vitreous].
OBJECTIVE
beta-D-glucan values in the vitreous were investigated in order to evaluate their usefulness for the diagnosis of fungal endophthalmitis.


METHODS
The vitreous or vitreous perfusate were collected from twenty-six patients who underwent vitreous surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine and beta-D-glucan values in these samples were examined.


RESULTS
Two samples with fungal endophthalmitis showed remarkably high concentration beta-D-glucan values. The other samples, except one, without fungal endophthalmitis showed significantly low beta-D-glucan values of less than 10.0 pg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
It is expected that beta-D-glucan values in the vitreous may be more sensitive than culture methods, and may be useful for the diagnosis of fungal endophthalmitis.
Shimbo
Masano
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, 3-9 Hukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan.
Ito
Norihiko
N
Kadonosono
Kazuaki
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry*
D005936:Glucans