Progress of serological biomarkers in making diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

Abstract

Allergic bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) is a common clinic syndrome in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or asthma, and it can induce long-term pulmonary damage such as bronchiectasis and fibrosis, even death.Early diagnosis and early treatment of ABPA is supposed to reduce symptoms, to improve lung function, and to prevent irreversible lung damage.Although multiple APBA diagnostic criteria were successively put forward, however ABPA in clinical and radiographic features with cystic fibrosis and allergic asthma aspergillus have overlap, so there are still some difficulties in making diagnosis.Therefore, it is critical for ABPA to finding effective serum biomarkers.New biomarkers have been found in the immunal pathogenesis research process of ABPA, such as Aspergillus antigen recombinant (rAsp), thymus gland activity regulating chemokine (TARC/CCL17), basophilic cells activity test (BAT), cell allergen stimulation test (CAST), have important significance in the diagnosis.This article will focus on the serum markers that can improve the diagnosis of ABPA, from the well-known markers (total IgE, specific IgE, Aspergillus, cigarette smoke, precipitin aspergillus specific IgG) to the new biomarkers (rAsp, TARC, BAT, CAST). We review the position and effectiveness of the serum markers in improving APBA early diagnosis combining with the literatures. Key words: Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis; Thymus Gland Activity Regulating Chemokine; Aspergillus Antigen Recombinant; Basophilic Cells Activity Test; Cell Allergen Stimulation Test