PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - S. Kitada AU - Y. Nishiuchi AU - T. Hiraga AU - N. Naka AU - H. Hashimoto AU - K. Yoshimura AU - K. Miki AU - M. Miki AU - M. Motone AU - T. Fujikawa AU - K. Kobayashi AU - I. Yano AU - R. Maekura TI - Serological test and chest computed tomography findings in patients with <em>Mycobacterium avium</em> complex lung disease AID - 10.1183/09031936.00061806 DP - 2007 Jun 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 1217--1223 VI - 29 IP - 6 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/29/6/1217.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/29/6/1217.full SO - Eur Respir J2007 Jun 01; 29 AB - The present authors have previously reported the usefulness of a serodiagnostic test to detect serum glycopeptidolipid (GPL) core antibody in diagnosing Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease in immunocompetent patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate correlations between the levels of antibody against GPL core and chest computed tomography (CCT) findings in patients with MAC lung disease. A total of 47 patients with MAC-positive culture from their sputum and who had radiographic abnormalities were investigated. Thirty-three patients met the American Thoracic Society criteria for MAC disease; 14 did not. All patients underwent both CCT examination and the serodiagnostic test for MAC at the same time. Small nodular shadows were seen on CCT in all 47 patients and bronchiectasis shadows were seen in 39 (83%) of them. There was a significant positive correlation between the extent of the disease and the level of GPL core immunoglobulin (Ig)A antibody. The levels of GPL core IgA antibody were significantly elevated in patients who had nodular shadows (10–30 mm) compared with patients who had small nodular shadows (&lt;10 mm). The present results document that the levels of immunoglobulin A antibody against glycopeptidolipid core correlate with the chest computed tomography findings of Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease.