Serum (1-3)-beta-D-glucan as a tool for diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection or hematological malignancy.
(1-3)-Beta-D-Glucan (BG) reactivity was tested in serum samples from 28 patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection or a hematological malignancy and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and 28 control patients. The sensitivity and specificity of BG detection with the Fungitell assay for PCP were 100 and 96.4%, respectively, using a cutoff value of 100 pg/ml. Serum BG testing looks promising for the noninvasive diagnosis of PCP. Our data suggest that a higher cutoff value for the diagnosis of PCP than for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis or candidiasis could be used safely and will improve the specificity of the test.
Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences, Dienst Laboratoriumgeneeskunde, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Stefanie
S
Desmet
Eric
E
Van Wijngaerden
Johan
J
Maertens
Jan
J
Verhaegen
Eric
E
Verbeken
Paul
P
De Munter
Wouter
W
Meersseman
Britt
B
Van Meensel
Johan
J
Van Eldere
Katrien
K
Lagrou
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood
D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C010770:polysaccharide-K