Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological Malignancies
(1-3)-beta-D-glucan (BDG) is an almost panfungal marker (absent in zygomycetes and most cryptococci), which can be successfully used in screening and diagnostic testing in patients with haematological malignancies if its advantages and limitations are known. The aim of this review is to report the d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/12/1046 |
| _version_ | 1797503198922014720 |
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| author | Malgorzata Mikulska Elisa Balletto Elio Castagnola Alessandra Mularoni |
| author_facet | Malgorzata Mikulska Elisa Balletto Elio Castagnola Alessandra Mularoni |
| author_sort | Malgorzata Mikulska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1-3)-beta-D-glucan (BDG) is an almost panfungal marker (absent in zygomycetes and most cryptococci), which can be successfully used in screening and diagnostic testing in patients with haematological malignancies if its advantages and limitations are known. The aim of this review is to report the data, particularly from the last 5 years, on the use of BDG in haematological population. Published data report mainly on the performance of the Fungitell™ assay, although several others are currently available, and they vary in method and cut-off of positivity. The sensitivity of BDG for invasive fungal disease (IFD) in haematology patients seems lower than in other populations, possibly because of the type of IFD (lower sensitivity was found in case of aspergillosis compared to candidiasis and pneumocystosis) or the use of prophylaxis. The specificity of the test can be improved by using two consecutive positive assays and avoiding testing in the case of the concomitant presence of factors associated with false positive results. BDG should be used in combination with clinical assessment and other diagnostic tests, both radiological and mycological, to provide maximum information. Good performance of BDG in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been reported. BDG is a useful diagnostic method in haematology patients, particularly for pneumocystosis or initial diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e90d89b51a24a2f9db26dcec57cd86b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e90d89b51a24a2f9db26dcec57cd86b2023-11-23T09:05:04ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2021-12-01712104610.3390/jof7121046Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological MalignanciesMalgorzata Mikulska0Elisa Balletto1Elio Castagnola2Alessandra Mularoni3Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, ItalyDivision of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, ItalyInfectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, ItalyIRCCS-ISMETT (Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione), 90127 Palermo, Italy(1-3)-beta-D-glucan (BDG) is an almost panfungal marker (absent in zygomycetes and most cryptococci), which can be successfully used in screening and diagnostic testing in patients with haematological malignancies if its advantages and limitations are known. The aim of this review is to report the data, particularly from the last 5 years, on the use of BDG in haematological population. Published data report mainly on the performance of the Fungitell™ assay, although several others are currently available, and they vary in method and cut-off of positivity. The sensitivity of BDG for invasive fungal disease (IFD) in haematology patients seems lower than in other populations, possibly because of the type of IFD (lower sensitivity was found in case of aspergillosis compared to candidiasis and pneumocystosis) or the use of prophylaxis. The specificity of the test can be improved by using two consecutive positive assays and avoiding testing in the case of the concomitant presence of factors associated with false positive results. BDG should be used in combination with clinical assessment and other diagnostic tests, both radiological and mycological, to provide maximum information. Good performance of BDG in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been reported. BDG is a useful diagnostic method in haematology patients, particularly for pneumocystosis or initial diagnosis of invasive fungal infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/12/1046glucaninvasive fungal infectionsneutropeniaaspergillosispneumocystosiscerebral infection |
| spellingShingle | Malgorzata Mikulska Elisa Balletto Elio Castagnola Alessandra Mularoni Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological Malignancies Journal of Fungi glucan invasive fungal infections neutropenia aspergillosis pneumocystosis cerebral infection |
| title | Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological Malignancies |
| title_full | Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological Malignancies |
| title_fullStr | Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological Malignancies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological Malignancies |
| title_short | Beta-D-Glucan in Patients with Haematological Malignancies |
| title_sort | beta d glucan in patients with haematological malignancies |
| topic | glucan invasive fungal infections neutropenia aspergillosis pneumocystosis cerebral infection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/12/1046 |
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