Aspergillus galactomannan antigen for diagnosis and treatment monitoring in cerebral aspergillosis.

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis, especially neuroaspergillosis, predominantly affects immunocompromised patients such as transplant recipients. Early diagnosis and subsequent early initiation of therapy may improve final outcome. In cerebral aspergillosis, samples for culture or histopathology, the diagnostic reference standard, are often impossible to obtain without risk. Because of these limitations, serological, nucleic acid amplification tests such as polymerase chain reaction or enzyme immunoassay from cerebrospinal fluid appear advantageous for early diagnosis and probably also for therapy monitoring. We report on the successful detection and treatment monitoring by serial testing of galactomannan in cerebrospinal fluid in a patient with neuroaspergillosis after heart transplant.

• Authors: Gerold Soeffker, Dominic Wichmann, Ulrike Loderstaedt, Ingo Sobottka, Tobias Deuse, Stefan Kluge
• Journal: Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) (Prog Transplant) Vol. 23 Issue 1 Pg. 71-4 (Mar 2013) ISSN: 1526-9248 [Print] United States
• PMID: 23448824 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Antigens, Fungal
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Pyrimidines
• Triazoles
• galactomannoprotein, Aspergillus fumigatus
• Voriconazole

Topics

• Antifungal Agents (pharmacology)
• Antigens, Fungal
• Drug Monitoring (methods)
• Early Diagnosis
• Heart Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Meningitis, Fungal (cerebrospinal fluid, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Neuroaspergillosis (cerebrospinal fluid, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Pyrimidines (pharmacology)
• Triazoles (pharmacology)
• Voriconazole