Aspergillus-specific IgG antibodies for diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis compared to the reference standard

Authors

Helmut J F Salzer, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria
Maja Reimann, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
Carolin Oertel, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
Jesper Davidsen Davidsen, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Christian B. Laursen, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Eva Van Braeckel, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Ritesh Agarwal, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Korkut Avsar, ungenärzte am Rundfunkplatz, Munich, Germany
Oxana Munteanu, State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu
Muhammed Irfan, Aga Khan University
Christoph Lange, University of Lu¨beck, Lu¨beck, Germany

Document Type

Article

Department

Pulmonary and Critical Care

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of Aspergillus-specific IgG antibodies for diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) by using a cohort of patients with histologically proven CPA as a reference standard.
Methods: We collected Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody titres from patients with histologically proven CPA in collaboration with CPAnet study sites in Denmark, Germany, Belgium, India, Moldova, and Pakistan (N = 47). Additionally, sera from diseased and healthy controls were prospectively collected at the Medical Clinic of the Research Center, Borstel, Germany (n = 303). Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody titres were measured by the ImmunoCAP® assay (Phadia 100, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Uppsala, Sweden). An Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody titre ≥50 mgA/L was considered positive.
Results: Using patients with histologically proven CPA as the reference standard, the ImmunoCAP® Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody test had a sensitivity and specificity of 85.1% (95% CI: 71.7-93.8%) and 83.6% (95% CI: 78.0-88.3%), respectively. Patients with histologically proven CPA had significantly higher Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody titre with a median of 83.45 mgA/L (interquartile range 38.9-115.5) than all other cohorts (p < 0.001). False-positive test results occurred in one-third of 79 healthy controls.
Discussion: Our study results confirm a high sensitivity of the Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody test for the diagnosis of CPA when using patients with histologically proven CPA as a reference standard. However, positive test results should always match radiological findings as false-positive test results limit the interpretation of the test

Comments

Volume, issue, and pagination are not provided by the author/publisher.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Recommended Citation

Salzer, H. J., Reimann, M., Oertel, C., Davidsen, J. D., Laursen, C. B., Braeckel, E. V., Agarwal, R., Avsar, K., Munteanu, O., Irfan, M., Lange, C. (2023). Aspergillus-specific IgG antibodies for diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis compared to the reference standard. Clinical Microbiology and Infection.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_pulm_critcare/187