[Clinical and immunological study of 10 immunocompetent patients with esophageal candidiasis].
BACKGROUND
Esophageal candidiasis is associated with conditions that cause an immune depression. It is a defining disease for AIDS, is observed in poorly controlled diabetics, in patients with renal or hepatic failure, in patients with cancer and in subjects using medications causing immunosuppression or broad spectrum antimicrobials.


OBJECTIVE
To report the features of 10 immunocompetent patients with esophageal candidiasis.


METHODS
Six males and four females aged between 48 and 82 years, without conditions associated with immunosuppression, in whom an esophageal candidiasis was found on an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Delayed skin hypersensitivity to eight antigens, lymphocyte subpopulations, yeast phagocytosis and neutrophil chemotaxis were measured.


RESULTS
Six patients had a low CD4 lymphocyte count and seven had a low CD8 count. Seven patients were anergic on skin hypersensitivity challenge. Yeast phagocytosis was abnormal in one patient and neutrophil chemotaxis was abnormal in two. Humoral immunity was normal in all subjects. All patients were treated with oral fluconazole in doses of 150 mg/day for 14 days, with complete resolution of candidiasis in all.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with esophageal candidiasis, have frequent alterations of cellular immunity, that must be diagnosed and treated.
Cortés
Claudia
C
Sección Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile.
Oksenberg
Danny
D
Afani
Alejandro
A
Defilippi
Carlos
C
Madrid
Ana María
AM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies