Clinical significance of (1-->3)-beta-d-glucan in a patient with invasive sino-orbital aspergillosis.
OBJECTIVE
The usefulness of BG as a marker has been reported in patients with pulmonary aspergillosis. However, no data have demonstrated the behavior of BG in sino-orbital IA. We encountered a case of sino-orbital IA and demonstrated changes in the BG level, radiological images, and pathological features.


RESULTS
A 63-year-old Japanese woman suffered from invasive sino-orbital aspergillosis. The serum BG level measured immediately before surgery was 37.2pg/mL (normal value <3.4pg/mL). Endoscopic sinus surgery revealed some necrotic tissue extending from the ethmoid sinus to the orbit. The infiltrating Aspergillus was revealed in the pathological examination. The BG level decreased to the normal value. However, CT revealed a high-density area; this may indicate that an aspergillosis lesion remained slightly in the orbit.


CONCLUSIONS
(1-->3)-beta-d-Glucan (BG) is a useful marker for diagnosing Aspergillus and evaluating the therapeutic effect of the treatment administered.
Nakanishi
Wakako
W
Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital, Japan. wakako-nab@umin.ac.jp
Fujishiro
Yoshinori
Y
Nishimura
Shinichi
S
Fukaya
Takashi
T
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015521:Ethmoid Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan