Serum galactomannan and (1→3)-β-D-glucan assays for patients with multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

Abstract

We assessed the performance of galactomannan and (1→3)-β-D-glucan in 29 serum samples from patients with multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia without invasive fungal disease to address issues of false positivity and uninterpretable results previously reported among patients with these conditions. Galactomannan and (1→3)-β-D-glucan assays were not falsely elevated in any patient. (1→3)-β-D-glucan assay results were uninterpretable in 24% of patients. Patients with IgG levels of>2,000 mg/dl had higher odds of uninterpretable (1→3)-β-D-glucan results. Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.