The Pediatric infectious disease journal
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Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. · Mar 1996
Prospective sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serum galactomannan: early predictive value and clinical use in invasive aspergillosis.
The delay between the onset of invasive aspergillosis and the start of antifungal therapy is crucial for the patient's recovery. Early diagnosis is difficult in cancer patients through lack of precocious specific signs. We have investigated the clinical usefulness of circulating Aspergillus antigen monitoring in pediatric hematology patients with a new sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ⋯ The detection of galactomannan at concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml can be useful for the early initiation of antifungal therapy and monitoring treatment in clinically documented lung aspergillosis. This technique coupled with chest computed tomography could help to restrict the need of invasive diagnostic procedures in fragile patients.