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Diagnosis of pulmonary histoplasmosis and blastomycosis by detection of antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using an improved second-generation enzyme-linked immunoassay

Authors :
Michelle Durkin
Michelle Parker
Lindsey Egan
L. Joseph Wheat
Kenneth S. Knox
DeAnna Fuller
Deborah Blue-Hnidy
Ann M. LeMonte
Chadi A. Hage
Patricia Connelly
Thomas E. Davis
Source :
Respiratory Medicine. 101(1):43-47
Publication Year :
2007
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2007.

Abstract

SummaryAntigen detection is a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antigen detection in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid using an improved second-generation Histoplasma antigen assay. Antigen was detected in 16 of 19 (84%) cases of histoplasmosis and 5 of 6 (83.3%) blastomycosis cases using the second-generation assay vs. 13 of 19 (68%) and 4 of 6 (66.7%), respectively, in the original assay. Ten-fold concentration permitted detection of antigen in an additional case of histoplasmosis and another with blastomycosis, for an overall sensitivity of 23 of 25 (92.0%). Specificity was 98.2% in both assays in controls with other pulmonary infections. These findings support the diagnostic utility of the second-generation assay in patients with pulmonary histoplasmosis and blastomycosis.

Details

ISSN :
09546111
Volume :
101
Issue :
1
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Respiratory Medicine
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....02bbc050009e04ca63cd83e95f3dc69e
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2006.04.017