Evaluation of Galactomannan Assay in Serum for Detection of Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Bone Marrow Treansplant Recipients

Background and Ïnvasive aspergillosis (IA) is a serious opportunistic infection caused by various species of Âspergillus in immnucompromissed individuals. Basically, rapid and early diagnosis prevents of ÏÂ progression. Serodiagnosis relies on the detection of circulating antigens produced by Âspergillus species. Galactomannan is one such antigen that can be measured in sera of patients with aspergillosis. From 2009 to 2010, 62 patients with hematologic malignancies and marrow transplant recipients were evaluated for ÏÂ in Sari and Tehran, northern Ïran. Four milliliter blood were collected twice from patient and serum stored at-20 ℃ until examination. Serums were obtained from selected patients and the test was performed using the platelia Âspergillus kit. Galactomannan Âssays were classified as positive when the optical density ratio was >0.5. The female-to-male ratio was 22: 40; the mean age of patients was 32.1 years. Their age ranged from 2 to 74 years. Nineteen cases (30.6%) were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ÂLL), 14 (22.6%) acute myeloid leukemia (ÂML), 11(17.7%) Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other patients had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalasemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia that received chemotherapy. GM was positive in 13(21%) patients who exhibited clinical signs and host factor of ÏÂ. Âccording to the criteria defined by the Ëuropean Ôrganization for Research and Treatment of Çancer (ËÔRTÇ) for ÏÂ, 5(8%) patient probable and 8(13%) patient possible were stratified into group. Çonclusion: The ËLÏSÂ assay of Galactomannan Âg in serum samples was the most useful of the laboratory tests for the detection of ÏÂ.