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Better Diagnostic Tests for Histoplasma Meningitis

Clin Infect Dis; 2017 Aug 20; Block, et al

Testing a patient’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for IgM and IgG antibodies can help in the diagnosis of Histoplasma meningitis, according to a recent study. Among the details:

  • Investigators analyzed CSF from 50 patients with Histoplasma meningitis and 150 controls to evaluate the value of new diagnostic tests, including Histoplasma antigen and anti-Histoplasma antibodies.
  • IgG and IgM antiantibodies were found in 82% of patients with the infection, with a specificity of 93%.
  • Histoplasma antigen was found in 78% of patients with the infection, with a specificity of 97%.

Citation:

Bloch KC, Myint T, Raymond-Guillen L, et al. Improvement in diagnosis of Histoplasma meningitis by combined testing for histoplasma antigen and Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M anti-histoplasma antibody in cerebrospinal fluid. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;cix706. doi:10.1093/cid/cix706.