High plasma concentration of beta-D-glucan after administration of sizofiran for cervical cancer

Case report

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Authors: Hirokazu Tokuyasu, Kenichi Takeda, Yuji Kawasaki, et al

Published Date September 2010 Volume 2010:3 Pages 273 - 277

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S12319

Hirokazu Tokuyasu¹, Kenichi Takeda¹, Yuji Kawasaki¹, Yasuto Sakaguchi², Noritaka Isowa², Eiji Shimizu³, Yasuto Ueda³

¹Divisions of Respiratory Medicine, ²Thoracic Surgery, Matsue Red Cross Hospital, 200 Horomachi, Matsue, Shimane; ³Division of Medical Oncology and Molecular Respirology, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan

Abstract: A 69-year-old woman with a history of cervical cancer was admitted to our hospital for further investigation of abnormal shadows on her chest roentgenogram. Histologic examination of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens revealed epithelioid cell granuloma, and Mycobacterium intracellulare was detected in the bronchial lavage fluid. The plasma level of (1→3)-beta-D-glucan was very high, and this elevated level was attributed to administration of sizofiran for treatment of cervical cancer 18 years previously. Therefore, in patients with cervical cancer, it is important to confirm whether or not sizofiran has been administered before measuring (1→3)-beta-D-glucan levels.

Keywords: (1→3)-beta-D-glucan, cervical cancer, Mycobacterium intracellulare, sizofiran