title: Comparison of galactomannan, beta-D-glucan, and Aspergillus DNA in sera of high-risk adult patients with hematological malignancies for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a fatal infection that is difficult to diagnose in immunocompromised patients. In this study, Aspergillus-specific DNA was searched using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) in serum samples. Galactomannan (GM) and/or beta-D-glucan (BDG) tests were previously performed on these samples for 70 neutropenic patients with hematological malignancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were categorized according to the criteria of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG). Among the patient serum samples, the first positive GM or BDG test sample and the median sample of GM or BDG test for negative patients were used to detect DNA levels by RT-PCR method (Light Cycler 480, Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Meylan, France) using a commercial kit (Way2Gene Fungi; Genmar, İzmir, Turkey).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the proven and probable IA group were considered as real patients, sensitivity of Aspergillus-specific DNA test was 90%, specificity was 73.3%, positive predictive value was 81.8%, and negative predictive value was 84.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that searching for specific DNA by RT-PCR method has a sensitivity as high as the GM test. Although specificity was rather low, it was concluded that it can be used jointly with GM and BDG tests after decreasing contamination by severe laboratory applications.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Gülçin
authors: G
authors: Bölük
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Esra
authors: E
authors: Kazak
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Fahir
authors: F
authors: Özkalemkaş
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Beyza
authors: B
authors: Ener
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Halis
authors: H
authors: Akalin
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Harun
authors: H
authors: Ağca
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Yıldız
authors: Y
authors: Okuturlar
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Medicabil Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Kürşad
authors: K
authors: Keskin
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Rentıp Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Başak
authors: B
authors: Burgazlioğlu
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Rıdvan
authors: R
authors: Ali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis; D001230:Aspergillus; D004247:DNA; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D008351:Mannans; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D008351:Mannans; C012990:galactomannan; D004247:DNA; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Invasive aspergillosis; beta-D-glucan test; galactomannan test; specific DNA