Related Experiment Videos
[Plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan level in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis]
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Koseiren Takaoka Hospital, Takaoka, Japan.
Abstract:
We measured the plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (beta-DG) levels in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and compared their temporal changes with those of serum IgE and eosinophil counts in the peripheral blood. The subjects were three ABPA patients who were newly diagnosed or had had a relapse between May 1998 and April 1999. Before treatment, all three cases showed high plasma beta-DG values, which declined following corticosteroid treatment with or without oral itraconazole. In two cases, the beta-DG values rose again on relapse. beta-DG values showed a tendency to change in parallel with IgE, although they moved in the opposite direction after a relapse in one case. The present findings suggest that the plasma beta-DG level may be a useful follow-up indicator of the infectious aspect of this disease.
Insights
Plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (beta-DG) levels can monitor allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) treatment. These levels, alongside IgE and eosinophils, may indicate disease activity and relapse in ABPA patients.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Immunology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity disorder.
- Monitoring disease activity and treatment response in ABPA is crucial.
- Current biomarkers include serum IgE and eosinophil counts.
Observation:
- Plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (beta-DG) levels were measured in three ABPA patients.
- Temporal changes in beta-DG were compared with serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil counts.
- High plasma beta-DG values were observed before treatment and declined with therapy.
Findings:
- Plasma beta-DG levels decreased following corticosteroid treatment, with or without itraconazole.
- In two cases, beta-DG levels increased upon disease relapse.
- Beta-DG levels generally paralleled IgE trends, with one exception during relapse.
Implications:
- Plasma beta-DG may serve as a valuable follow-up biomarker for the infectious component of ABPA.
- This finding could aid in monitoring treatment efficacy and detecting relapses.
- Further research is warranted to validate beta-DG as a routine diagnostic marker in ABPA.