Existing tests vs. novel non-invasive assays for detection of invasive aspergillosis in patients with respiratory diseases

Background: Although existing mycological tests (bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] galactomannan [GM], serum GM, serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan [BDG], and fungal culture) are widely used for diagnosing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in non-hematological patients with respiratory diseases, their clinical utility in this large population is actually unclear. We aimed to resolve this clinical uncertainty by evaluating the diagnostic accuracy and utility of existing tests and explore the efficacy of novel sputum-basedAspergillus assays.Methods: Existing tests were assessed in a prospective and consecutive cohort of patients with respiratory diseases in West China Hospital between 2016 and 2019 while novel sputum assays (especially sputum GM andAspergillus-specific lateral-flow device [LFD]) in a case-controlled subcohort. IPA was defined according to the modified European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria. Sensitivity and specificity were computed for each test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.Results: The entire cohort included 3530 admissions (proven/probable IPA=66, no IPA=3464) and the subcohort included 127 admissions (proven/probable IPA=38, no IPA=89). Sensitivity of BAL GM (≥1.0 optical density index [ODI]: 86% [24/28]) was substantially higher than that of serum GM (≥0.5 ODI: 38% [39/102]) (χ^(2)=19.83,P<0.001), serum BDG (≥70 pg/mL: 33% [31/95]) (χ^(2)=24.65,P<0.001), and fungal culture (33% [84/253]) (χ^(2)=29.38,P<0.001). Specificity varied between BAL GM (≥1.0 ODI: 94% [377/402]), serum GM (≥0.5 ODI: 95% [2130/2248]), BDG (89% [1878/2106]), and culture (98% [4936/5055]). Sputum GM (≥2.0 ODI) had similar sensitivity (84% [32/38]) (Fisher’s exactP=1.000) to and slightly lower specificity (87% [77/89]) (χ^(2)=5.52,P=0.019) than BAL GM (≥1.0 ODI). Area under the ROC curve values were comparable between sputum GM (0.883 [0.812-0.953]) and BAL GM (0.901 [0.824-0.977]) (P=0.734). Sputum LFD had similar specificity (91% [81/89]) (χ^(2)=0.89,P=0.345) to and lower sensitivity (63% [24/38]) (χ^(2)=4.14,P=0.042) than BAL GM (≥1.0 ODI), but significantly higher sensitivity than serum GM (≥0.5 ODI) (χ^(2)=6.95,P=0.008), BDG (χ^(2)=10.43,P=0.001), and fungal culture (χ^(2)=12.70,P<0.001).Conclusions: Serum GM, serum BDG, and fungal culture lack sufficient sensitivity for diagnosing IPA in respiratory patients. Sputum GM and LFD assays hold promise as rapid, sensitive, and non-invasive alternatives to the BAL GM test.

Management of severe asthma:from stepwise approach to therapy to treatable traits?

Dear Editor,Asthma is a heterogeneous disease,usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation.The disease affects more than 300 million individualsworldwide,and poses a significant ongoing health burden,especially for patients with poorly controlled and severe asthma.1 The stepwise approach to therapy recommended in asthma management guidelines is effective.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis will increase the risk of lung cancer

Objective To review the studies investigating the increased risk of lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF）.Data sources Data cited in this review were obtained mainly from PubMed and Medline from 1999 to 2013 and highly regarded older publications were also included.Study selection We identified,retrieved and reviewed the information on the frequency,risk factors,anatomical features,histological types,clinical manifestations,computed tomography findings and underlying mechanisms of lung cancer in IPF patients.Results The prevalence rates of lung cancer in patients with IPF （4.8％ to 48％） are much higher than patients without IPF （2.0％ to 6.4％）.The risk factors for lung cancer in IPF include smoking,male gender,and age.Lung cancers often occur in the peripheral lung zones where fibrotic changes are predominant.Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of lung cancer in patients with IPF.Radiologic features of these patients include peripherally located,ill-defined mass mimicking air-space disease.The underlying mechanisms of the development of lung cancer in patients with IPF have not been fully understood,but may include the inflammatory response,epithelial injury and/or abnormalities,aberrant fibroblast proliferation,epigenetic and genetic changes,reduced cell-to-cell communication,and activation of specific signaling pathways.Conclusions These findings suggest that IPF is associated with increased lung cancer risk.It is necessary to raise the awareness of lung cancer risk in IPF patients among physicians and patients.