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Serum (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan levels (Fungitell assay) is not useful as a screening test for recipients of an allogeneic HSCT while on immunoglobulin replacement

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 47, pages 151–152 (2012)Cite this article

With a reported prevalence of 5–10% and mortality rate of 20–70%, invasive fungal infection is an important complication in allo-hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) recipients.1, 2 Recent publications have described the serial measurement of serum (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan levels with the Fungitell assay as a useful tool for early diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in patients receiving conventional chemotherapy.3, 4 Our experience with two patients receiving prophylactic immunoglobulin replacement during allo-HSCT questions the use of (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan levels as a screening tool for this patient cohort.

Patient two is a 12-year-old female who received an allogeneic BMT for aplastic anemia after unsuccessful treatment with immunosuppressive therapy. Initially, test results were negative but with weekly immunoglobulin replacement (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan levels increased with several test results in the suspicious range up to 77 pg/mL (Figure 1). About 3 weeks after the last immunoglobulin infusion, (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan became not detectable (<31 pg/mL) again.

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Figure 1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helen DeVos Childrens’ Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

    U Duffner, A Abdel-Mageed, K Dahl & G Fogg

  2. Viracor-IBT Laboratories, Lee's Summit, MO, USA

    J Hester

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  1. U Duffner
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  2. A Abdel-Mageed
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  3. K Dahl
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  4. G Fogg
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Correspondence to U Duffner.

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Competing interests

Dr Hester is an employee of Viracor-IBT Laboratories, which offers the FungitellAssay as a diagnostic test. Dr Duffner, Dr Abdel-Mageed, Dr Dahl and Dr Fogg declare no potential conflict of interest.

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Duffner, U., Abdel-Mageed, A., Dahl, K. et al. Serum (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan levels (Fungitell assay) is not useful as a screening test for recipients of an allogeneic HSCT while on immunoglobulin replacement. Bone Marrow Transplant 47, 151–152 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2011.24

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