title: Two non-invasive diagnostic tools for invasive aspergilosis: (1-3)-beta-D-glucan and the galactomannan assay.
abstract: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. Prompt and non-invasive methods for diagnosing IA are needed to improve the management of this life-threatening infection in patients with hematological disorders. In summary, this retrospective review of studies performed on the two assays finds that both assays have high sensitivity and specificity but are more useful when used together as a diagnostic strategy for patients with invasive aspergillosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Research Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 100 Penn Street-AHB Room #435, Baltimore 21201, USA. akela001@umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelaher
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008351:Mannans / Q000097:blood*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011509:Proteoglycans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008351:Mannans; D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C012990:galactomannan; C010770:polysaccharide-K; D005690:Galactose