The Alteration of Serum Galactomannan Levels in Surgically Treated Patients with Aspergilloma: a Prospective Observational Study

Involvement of lung by aspergillus can occur in various forms like allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and pulmonary aspergilloma. Galactomannan, a component of the cell wall of the mold aspergillus, is released in various body fluids like blood, urine, and bronchoalveolar fluid in pulmonary aspergilloma. In this study, pre-operative and post-operative serum samples were collected 24 h before and 6 weeks post-surgery respectively. It was a prospective study to quantify the changes in serum galactomannan levels in patients with aspergilloma lung. The pre-operative GM levels of patients were 5.09 SD 0.48 (range 0.7-8.9) and 6-week post-operative GM levels were 1.20 SD 0.12 (range 0.5-2.3). Comparing the pre and post GM levels of patients showed significant decrease (76.5%) in GM level at post as compared to pre (5.09 SD 0.48 vs. 1.20 SD 0.12) with mean change of 3.89 SD 0.47. Monitoring of galactomannan levels in the post-operative period can be used to confirm disease-free period and keep a watch on residual disease or disease recurrence.