title: PTX3 as a potential novel tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary fungal infections in immuno-compromised pediatric patients.
abstract: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a member of the long pentraxin superfamily and has a nonredundant role in mediating resistance to fungal pathogens. Serial monitoring of PTX3 plasmatic levels was performed in 10 pediatric leukemia patients affected by pulmonary fungal infections. When compared with values of a control pediatric cohort, PTX3 showed significantly higher plasmatic values. Moreover, the response to the antifungal therapy correlated with normalization of PTX3 values. PTX3 may represent a useful tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of fungal infections in immuno-compromised children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. ettore.biagi@pediatriamonza.it
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Col
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migliavacca
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell'Oro
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montanelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: Mario Renato
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000032:analysis*; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins