Vol.20 No.4

Original Article

Evaluation of the clinical cutoff level of serum (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan in patients with connective tissue diseases complicated by deep fungal infections

Authors

Kenichi Kato1 , Satoru Onoda1 , Junichiro Asano1 , Shusaku Fukaya1 , Shunji Yoshida1

  • Division of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
Received:

17 November 2009

Accepted:

17 February 2010

Published online:

27 March 2010

Full Text

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Abstract

Serum (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan levels and clinical findings were evaluated in 229 inpatients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) during the period between June and October 2004. The mean serum (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan level was 129.7 ± 207.6 pg/mL in patients with a definitive diagnosis of fungal infections and 10.5 ± 8.6 pg/mL in patients without fungal infections. Analysis of the diagnostic sensitivity/specificity for various (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan cutoff levels gave the best results for a cutoff level of 15 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 81.3%. This level was therefore determined to be the optimal cutoff in patients with CTDs.

Key words

Connective tissue diseases - Serological surrogate diagnostic marker - (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan - Fungal infections