Table 1 Diagnostic criteria for recruited subjects
Disease | Diagnostic criteria |
|---|---|
ABPA | All the following are required Total serum IgE 1000 IU/ml (at any time) Either positive SPT for Aspergillus or Aspergillus specific IgE Current or historical evidence of eosinophilia Further indicators Almost all patients have asthma (or cystic fibrosis, n = 3) and over 50 % central bronchiectasis on CT, but these were not required for inclusion Either recurrent obstruction (mucoid impaction) or episodes coughing up plugs of thick mucus (containing hyphae and eosinophils) Positive Aspergillus precipitins or raised Aspergillus IgG titre |
Atopic (non-fungally atopic) asthmatic | All the following are required Physician diagnosed asthma No diagnosis of aspergillosis Negative SPT (at 3Â mm cut-off) and/or IgE (<0.4) to all fungi tested, including Alternaria alternata, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium notatum, Trichophyton rubrum, A. fumigatus Positive SPT (at 3Â mm cut-off) and/or IgE (<0.4) to any allergen non-fungal allergen tested (e.g. mite, cat, dog and grasses) Note Only SPT or IgE need be completed, but if both are done and one is positive this is classed as a positive result |
Non-atopic asthmatic | All the following are required Physician diagnosed asthma No diagnosis of aspergillosis Negative SPT (at 3Â mm cut-off) and/or IgE (<0.4) to all allergens tested, including mite, cat, dog and grasses Negative SPT (at 3Â mm cut-off) and/or IgE (<0.4) to all fungi tested, including Alternaria alternata, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium notatum, Trichophyton rubrum, A. fumigatus Note: Only SPT or IgE need be completed, but if both are done and one is positive this is classed as a positive result |
Healthy control | All the following are required No diagnosis of asthma No diagnosis of aspergillosis Negative SPT (at 3Â mm cut-off) and/or IgE (<0.4) to all allergens tested, including mite, cat, dog and grasses Negative SPT (at 3Â mm cut-off) and/or IgE (<0.4) to all fungi tested, including Alternaria alternata, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium notatum, Trichophyton rubrum, A. fumigatus |