Serological diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis by ELISA
Yamamoto, S.; Toida, I.; Wada, M.; Hosojima, S.; Kudou, S.
Kekkaku 64(1): 15-24
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-9776 PMID: 2709653 Document Number: 329350
The clinical usefulness of the determination of anti-Aspergillus antibodies by ELISA was compared with that of the gel precipitation method. Approx. two-thirds of 45 healthy adults (controls) did not show any detectable IgG ant-Aspergillus antibody and the mean of IgG anti-Aspergillus antibody titre of the control group was 28.97. Patients, who had shown positive culture of fungus or were clinically diagnosed or strongly suspected as having pulmonary aspergillosis, showed significantly higher anti-Aspergillus IgG antibody titres in comparison with the control group. Further, patients who were positive in gel precipitation tests showed significantly higher IgG antibody titres than those who were negative in that test. IgG antibody titre determined by ELISA corresponded with clinical diagnosis more exactly than the results of the gel precipitation test. The results obtained by ELISA were objective and quantitative in comparison with the latter test. It is concluded that ELISA is superior to gel precipitation tests and that ELISA IgG antibody titres of 2500 or more are confirmative and those between 570 and 2500 are strongly suggestive for the diagnosis of aspergillosis. IgM anti-Aspergillus antibody titres were not different among control and patients groups.