Long-term remission of candidiasis with fermented lingonberry mouth rinse in an adult patient with APECED

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases 2024-07, Vol.144, p.107066-107066, Article 107066
• Main Authors: Pärnänen, Pirjo, Suojanen, Juho, Laine, Mikael, Sorsa, Timo, Ranki, Annamari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Antifungal resistance; APECED; APS-1; Candidiasis - drug therapy; Candidiasis - microbiology; Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis; Female; Fermented lingonberry juice; Fruit and Vegetable Juices - microbiology; Humans; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Mouthwashes - therapeutic use; Polyendocrinopathies, Autoimmune - drug therapy; Remission Induction; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107066

•A 57-year-old female patient with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy with lifelong devastating candidiasis.•During treatments resistance to all antifungals was noted.•Exceptional 2½ years remission in candidiasis with fermented lingonberry juice.•Fermented lingonberry juice showed marked oral-gastrointestinal antifungal effects. We report a long-term remission in candidiasis in a 57-year-old Finnish female with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) suffering from recurrent oral, esophageal, gastric, vaginal, and anal candidiasis since childhood. Candidiasis treatment with antifungal medicines fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin, nystatin, or amphotericin-B during 2008-2021 had variable effects and intermittent development of antifungal resistance and hospital periods. The patient started using fermented lingonberry juice (FLJ) as a mouth rinse daily in April 2021. No symptoms or mucosal signs of candidiasis in any part of the digestive system or vaginal area have been noticed during this exceptionally long-term 2 ½ year remission in candidiasis without antifungal medications.