| DB ID | MyCo_5498 |
| Title | Multicenter comparison of serum and whole-blood specimens for detection of Aspergillus DNA in high-risk hematological patients |
| Year | 2013 |
| PMID | 23426930 |
| Fungal Diseases involved | Invasive aspergillosis |
| Associated Medical Condition | Hematological Disorders |
| Genus | Aspergillus |
| Species | flavus |
| Organism | Aspergillus flavus |
| Ethical Statement | The study was approved by the local ethics committees of the University Hospitals of Wuerzburg and St. James’s Hospital Dublin. |
| Site of Infection | Bloodstream |
| Opportunistic invasive | Opportunistic |
| Sample type | Body fluid |
| Sample source | Serum |
| Host Group | Human |
| Host Common name | Human |
| Host Scientific name | Homo sapiens |
| Biomarker Name | 18S rRNA gene |
| Biomarker Full Name | 18S rRNA gene |
| Biomarker Type | Diagnostic |
| Biomolecule | Gene |
| Geographical Location | Australia |
| Cohort | Allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients (alloSCT) and patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy with an expected duration of ≥10 days of neutropenia (leukocyte count, <1,000/µl) were included in the study. Between 2006 and 2011, blood and serum samples were taken twice weekly from patients at high risk for invasive fungal disease. Signs and symptoms of IA were collected together with other microbiological data from patient charts in order to categorize the onset and type of fungal infection according to the revisedEORTC/MSGcriteria. WB specimens were analyzed prospectively. In parallel, serum samples were used for galactomannan quantification. PCR results were not subject to EORTC/MSG classification. Forty-seven cases (proven and probable IA) and 31 controls (no evidence of IA) were selected retrospectively for this case-control study, comprising 803 samples, in order to determine the performance of whole-blood PCR, serum PCR, and serum galactomannan testing. |
| Cohort No. | 78 |
| Age Group | None |
| P Value | p=0.0001 |
| Sensitivity | 0.787 |
| Specificity | 0.839 |
| Positive Predictive Value | 0.881 |
| MIC | None |
| Fold Change | None |
| Pathway | None |
| Disease Introduction Mechanism | Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major complication in immunocompromised patients, particularly individuals with acute leukemia or those receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Mortality rates remain high, at up to 89%; this is linked to difficulties in diagnosing IA due to nonspecific and late clinical signs and to the insensitivities of conventional laboratory diagnosis methods. Consequently, empirical therapy is frequently used, at a great cost, and it exposes patients to unnecessary drug side effects and toxicity. Early diagnosis is paramount, and sensitive molecular assays have the potential to improve diagnosis and patient outcome by providing alternative preemptive strategies. |
| Technique | PCR |
| Analysis Method | PCR Based |
| ELISA kits | Platelia Aspergillus GM ELISA Kit (Bio-Rad) |
| Assay Data | None |
| Validation Techniques used | ELISA, PCR, CT-SCAN, Biopsy |
| Up Regulation Down Regulation | None |
| Sequence Data | None |
| External Link | None |
