Exame de sangue auxilia no diagnóstico precoce de criptococose

Um exame de sangue rápido pode auxiliar no diagnóstico precoce de criptococose através da detecção do antígeno do criptococo.  A criptococose, um tipo de meningite fúngica, é uma das maiores causas de mortes em decorrência de AIDS em países em desenvolvimento.  A identificação precoce e o tratamento são essenciais para combater a doença, um diagnóstico tardio através de terapia antifúngica será falho nos países com recursos limitados.
O novo exame de sangue usa um anticorpo desenvolvido por Tom Kozel, professor de microbiologia da Escola de Medicina da Universidade de Nevada. O FDA (Food and Drug Administration) liberou o novo exame que salvará a vida de pacientes com AIDS afetados pela criptococose. Os exames atuais para detectar criptococose são eficientes, mas não são indicados para condições de recursos limitados.o exame requer expertise técnica equipamento especial de laboratório e refrigeração para estocagem.
 
Fonte: Labmedica.com
 
 
Versão na íntegra em inglês:
Blood Test Leads to Early Diagnosis of Cryptococcosis

A rapid blood test leads to early diagnosis of cryptococcosis by detecting the cryptoccocal antigen.

Cryptococcosis, a fungal meningitis, is a leading cause of AIDS-related deaths in developing countries. Early identification and treatment is essential to combat the disease; a late diagnosis means antifungal therapy will likely fail in resource-limited countries.

The new, rapid blood test is known as the CrAg lateral flow assay uses an antibody developed by Tom Kozel, professor of microbiology of the University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSM; Reno, NV, USA) The test was developed through collaboration between Prof. Kozel and Sean Bauman, president and CEO of Immuno-Mycologics (IMMY; Norman, OK, USA). It is a point-of-care (POC) dipstick test requiring no equipment.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Silver Spring, MD, USA) cleared the new diagnostic test that will help save the lives of AIDS patients stricken with cryptococcosis. The IMMY product is now available in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, and the FDA approval means that it will be available globally.

Current diagnostic tests for cryptococcosis are effective, but are not suitable for resource-limited settings. The tests require technical expertise, special laboratory equipment, and refrigeration for storage. All of these elements are difficult to come by for a rural clinic in a resource-limited country that lacks reliable electricity and proper infrastructure.