Diagnostic Value of Serum Antibody and Antigen Detection in Heroin Addicts with Systemic Candidiasis

The diagnostic value of antibody detection by indirect hemagglutination (IHA), indirect immunofluorescence (IFA), and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and of Candida albicans mannan antigen detection by latex agglutination was studied in 36 cases of systemic candidiasis in heroin addicts. The IHA...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reviews of infectious diseases 1989-03, Vol.11 (2), p.310-315
Main Authors: J. Bisbe, J. M. Miro, J. M. Torres, X. Latorre, C. Alia, M. Amaral, D. Estivill, J. Mallolas, Trilla, A., E. Soriano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antibodies
Antibodies, Fungal - analysis
Antigens
Antigens, Fungal - analysis
Biological and medical sciences
Candida albicans
Candida albicans - immunology
Candidiasis
Candidiasis - diagnosis
Candidiasis - etiology
Counterimmunoelectrophoresis
Drug addictions
Endocarditis
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Follow-Up Studies
Hemagglutination Tests
Heroin
Heroin Dependence - complications
Humans
Infections
Latex Fixation Tests
Lesions
Male
Mannans
Mannans - analysis
Mannans - immunology
Medical sciences
Predictive Value of Tests
Review Articles
Toxicology
Tumors
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Summary:The diagnostic value of antibody detection by indirect hemagglutination (IHA), indirect immunofluorescence (IFA), and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and of Candida albicans mannan antigen detection by latex agglutination was studied in 36 cases of systemic candidiasis in heroin addicts. The IHA and IFA techniques were highly sensitive (97% and 91%, respectively), but their specificity was low (60% and 50%). When a titer of ≥1:2,560 was used as a criterion for IHA positivity, the specificity of the test rose to 87%, with sensitivity at 75%. CIE had a high degree of specificity (96%) but a low degree of sensitivity (58%). A good correlation was found between clinical evolution of infection and serologic data. Two of 12 patients who could be followed for 9-16 months had a rise in antibody titer detected either by IFA or by IHA and CIE. These two patients had a persistent chondrocostal tumor and C. albicans endocarditis, respectively. All of the other patients, who were cured, had a decrease in titer detected by IHA and IFA and had negative CIE results at the end of follow-up. Serum mannan antigen was not found in any case. The detection of antibody to C. albicans may be useful for diagnosis and follow-up of such patients.
ISSN:0162-0886