Comparison of Blood (1->3)-β-D-Glucan Levels in AIDS-Related Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia and AIDS-Related Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis

In this retrospective study, (1->3)-beta-D-glucan (B-glucan) was an unreliable marker for AIDS-related Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) because a high percentage of participants with progressive disseminated histoplasmosis and respiratory symptoms had a positive B-glucan result. Where histoplasmosis is common, attributing B-glucan positivity to PCP without further testing risks misdiagnosis.

Automated summary

This study found that B-glucan was an unreliable marker for AIDS-related PCP in areas where histoplasmosis is common, as a high percentage of participants with respiratory symptoms had a positive B-glucan result.Attributing B-glucan positivity to PCP without further testing risks misdiagnosis.