DOCTYPE = ARTICLE Serial Aspergillus Antigen Monitoring in Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Patients

Invasive aspergillosis carries a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients, such as bone mar-row transplant patients. Favorable outcomes are dependent on early detection and treatment. Positive galactomannan antigenemia has been included as a microbiological criterion for probable or possible diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. Detection of cir-culating Aspergillus DNA in the first positive galac-tomannan sample, with serial monitoring, could help in diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in bone marrow transplant patients. Morbidity and mortality from aspergillosis can possibly be reduced if an early diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment initi-ated. An effective and accurate way of early detection of invasive aspergillosis is serial Aspergillus antige