Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis diagnosed early by polymerase chain reaction assay

Intern Med. 1999 Sep;38(9):744-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.38.744.

Abstract

We compared the usefulness of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the early diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis with the serodiagnosis of sufficient concentrations of galactomannan using the same serum samples. A patient was treated with prednisolone for the management of hepatitis. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest showed the nodular shadow with a cavity containing a clear fungus ball. DNA of Aspergillus spp. from a serum sample was detected and using the same serum sample, both latex agglutination and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of galactomannan were negative. PCR assay provides an early diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis compared with ELISA of galactomannan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Fungal / analysis
  • Aspergillosis / diagnosis*
  • Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / genetics*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / isolation & purification
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Galactose / analogs & derivatives
  • Humans
  • Latex Fixation Tests
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / microbiology
  • Male
  • Mannans / blood
  • Mannans / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Mannans
  • galactomannan
  • Galactose