Usefulness of Two Aspergillus PCR Assays and Aspergillus Galactomannan and β-d-Glucan Testing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid for Diagnosis of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis

摘要

The Aspergillus spp. are ubiquitous saprophytic fungi and are the pathogens most commonly responsible for pulmonary fungal disease worldwide. They cause a variety of diseases, including invasive and chronic aspergillosis and allergic disease (1). Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is classified into three major subtypes: chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis, and chronic fibrosing pulmonary aspergillosis (2). However, these subtypes usually overlap and are difficult to differentiate clinically. Thus, many investigators refer to these subtypes merely as CPA (3–8).