Diagnosing Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients With Hematological Malignancies: A Multicentre Prospective Evaluation of an Aspergillus PCR Assay and a Galactomannan ELISA in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Samples

Diagnosing Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients With Hematological Malignancies: A Multicentre Prospective Evaluation of an Aspergillus PCR Assay and a Galactomannan ELISA in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Samples

Diagnosing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) remains a challenge in patients (pts) with hematological malignancies. The clinical significance of testing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples both with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) ELISA is unclear, and the BAL cutoff for GM has not been clearly defined yet. Using a validated nested PCR assay and a GM ELISA, we prospectively examine BAL samples from hematological patients at high risk of PA.

Inclusion Criteria:

- hematological patients with lung infiltrates at high risk for invasive aspergillosis

Exclusion Criteria:

- patients without informed consent