GALACTOMANNAN (ASPERGILLUS ANTIGEN), BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE

GALACTOMANNAN (GM) IS A POLYSACCHARIDE COMPONENT OF THE ASPERGILLUS CELL WALL RELEASED FROM GROWING HYPHAE. DETECTION OF GALACTOMANNAN ANTIGEN IN BAL FLUID HAS SPECIAL RELEVANCE IN RECIPIENTS OF SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTS. MONITORING OF GALACTOMANNAN LEVELS CAN POTENTIALLY ALLOW INITIATION OF PRESUMPTIVE ANTIFUNGAL THERAPY BEFORE LIFE THREATENING INFECTION OCCURS. THE TEST AIDS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INVASIVE ASPERGILLOSIS (IA) AND ASSESSES RESPONSE TO THERAPY. INVASIVE ASPERGILLOSIS IS REPORTED IN 5-20% OF CASES WITH PROLONGED NEUTROPENIA, POST TRANSPLANTATION AND IN PATIENTS ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY. IT HAS A HIGH MORTALITY RATE OF 50-80% AND APPROXIMATELY 30% CASES REMAIN UNDIAGNOSED AND UNTREATED.