Kinetics of Serum β-D-Glucan after Pneumocystis Pneumonia Treatment in Patients with AIDS

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Objective Serum β-D-glucan has been demonstrated as a reliable, adjunct diagnostic marker for PCP, but its kinetics after PCP treatment are poorly understood. To evaluate the correlation between the levels of β-D-glucan and the clinical response, we investigated the individual transition of serum β-D-glucan levels after the initiation of PCP treatment. Methods Retrospective study Patients Seventeen PCP patients with AIDS who were admitted to our hospital were analyzed. Results All subjects showed the serum β-D-glucan levels above the cut-off value, and the median level was 224 pg/mL [IQR: 78-597] at the time of PCP diagnosis. There were no correlations between serum β-D-glucan levels and CRP, LDH, or AaDO2 at room air. Although there was a downward trend in serum β-D-glucan level as PCP treatment was initiated, a significant number of subjects showed a marked increase in the serum β-D-glucan levels despite their evident clinical improvement. Conclusion The serum β-D-glucan level does not reflect the severity and prognosis of PCP infection, and thus it may not be suitable for monitoring the response to treatment.