title: [Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans in cystic fibrosis: clinical significance and specific immune response involving serum immunoglobulins G, A, and M].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical significance of Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans in respiratory secretions from patients with cystic fibrosis and to assess the immune response to these fungi in serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 66 patients with cystic fibrosis (34 men; mean age, 16.2 years). Sera from 15 healthy individuals were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, and IgM against A fumigatus and C albicans were higher in patients than in the control group. There was no correlation between the presence of A fumigatus in respiratory secretions and the immune response to the fungus measured in serum. In contrast, the presence of C albicans in respiratory secretions was correlated with the immune response to that fungus. The likelihood of obtaining A fumigatus cultures from respiratory secretions increased with age. The presence of these fungi in respiratory samples was not a risk factor for greater respiratory impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In response to increased colonization of the lower respiratory tract by A fumigatus and C albicans, patients with cystic fibrosis have elevated serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM against those fungi. In patients with cystic fibrosis, culture of sputum and oropharyngeal secretions is adequate for the assessment of lower respiratory tract colonization by C albicans but not A fumigatus. Fungal colonization of the lower respiratory tract is not a risk factor for greater respiratory impairment in patients with cystic fibrosis.
authors: Unidad de Fibrosis Quística, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. lmaiz.hrc@salud.madrid.org
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Máiz
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Cuevas
authors: Adelaida
authors: A
authors: Lamas
authors: Aurora
authors: A
authors: Sousa
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Quirce
authors: Lucrecia
authors: L
authors: Suárez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M