title: [The performance of (1, 3)-beta-D-glucan and Aspergillus galactomannan measurement for early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematological diseases].
abstract: We analyzed the performance of (1, 3)-Beta-D-glucan (measurement by the alkaline-kinetic chromogenic Limulus method (FUNGITEC G test-MK, Fungitec) and the kinetic turbidimetric Limulus method [Beta-Glucan test WAKO, Wako]) and we carried out Aspergillus galactomannan antigen detection (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA test) for the early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematological diseases at the time of febrile episodes of unknown origin that did not respond to antibacterial therapy for more than 3 days. During a one-year period (April 2002 to March 2003), a total of 69 febrile episodes in 58 patients were studied; 8 cases of invasive aspergillosis were diagnosed according to the definition of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycosis Study Group, and 61 cases were found to be non-mycotic diseases. Based on the analysis of 69 results with confirmed disease status, the overall performance of the Fungitec, the Wako, and the ELISA test were as follows: sensitivity was 0.88, 0.63, and 0.50, respectively, whereas the specificity was 0.85, 0.98, and 1.0, respectively. Moreover, there was a strong relationship between the log-transformed values of the (1, 3)-Beta-D-glucan levels measured by the two methods (r = 0.92 [95%CI, 0.89-0.94] ; p<0.001). For the statistical analysis of these serological tests a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used, as well as the resulting area under the ROC curve (ROC AUC). The ROC AUC and the cut-off values that gave the highest accuracy were as follows: 0.92, 24.9 pg/ml for the Fungitec, 0.84, 7.3 pg/ml for the Wako, and 0.89, 0.9 COI for the ELISA test, respectively. In conclusion, these results indicate that both of the two (1, 3)-Beta-D-glucan measurement approaches served equally well as surveillance tools for determining the extent of invasive aspergillosis; in addition, the log-transformed value of these tests can be used for comparison. Moreover, the ELISA test was found to have clinical utility, both as a surveillance and as a diagnostic tool when invasive aspergillosis was suspected. It should be noted that the galactomannan assay had sensitivity-related limitations; lowering the cut-off value is expected to increase the diagnostic value for use in cases of invasive aspergillosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease and Infection Control Saitama Medical School Hospital.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005936:Glucans / Q000097:blood*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008033:Limulus Test; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D047071:beta-Glucans
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005936:Glucans; D008351:Mannans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C012990:galactomannan; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan; D005690:Galactose