Author:

I Jarque, R Andreu, M Salavert, D Gómez, J Pemán, M Gobernado, MA Sanz

Date: 4 April 2004

Abstract:

Serum galactomannan detection is considered to be a useful test for early diagnosisand follow-up of invasive aspergillosis. From February to September 2002,adult patients hospitalized in our Hematology Unit for receiving intensive chemotherapyand/or hematopoietic stem cell transplant were prospectively studied. Weanalyzed a total of 760 samples obtained from 100 patients. Eleven patients(11%) having a positive result (OD index >1,5 ng/ml) in two consecutivePlatelia®Aspergillus tests were considered galactomannan-positive cases. Onthe other hand, 12 patients (12%) were diagnosed of proven or probable invasiveaspergillosis. Sensitivity (66.6%), specificity (95.5%), positive predictive value(72.7%) and negative predictive value (96.7%) were comparable to those of largerseries. Galactomannan positivity allowed also to anticipate invasive aspergillosisdiagnosis (from two to 17 days before radiographic findings and from two to15 days before mycological culture). Moreover, kinetics of antigenemia could beuseful for assessing therapeutic response. Once accepted galactomannan testas a diagnostic criterium for invasive aspergillosis knowing potential causes offalse positive results is of paramount importance.

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