The Prevalence of Serum Candida Antigen in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Previously, we have reported that <I>Candida</I> strains were morefrequently detected in the oral cavity of hemodialysis patients, particularly long-term patients, than in that of the patients with chronic glomerulonephritis ans conservative chronic renal failure. In the present study, we conducted a screening test for the prevalence of serum <I>Candida</I> antigen in hemodialysis patients and determined <I>Candida</I> species in the oropharyngeal portion of those with serum <I>Candida</I> antigen. Serum <I>Candida</I> antigen was found in 18.75% of the hemodialysis paients in our renal unit. Furthermore, <I>Candida</I> strains were detected in the oropharyngeal portion in 75.0%of those with serum <I>Candida</I> antigen. The percentage was higher than that of hemodialysis patients without serum <I>Candida</I> antigen (50.0%). <I>Candida</I> species determined in the oropharyngeal portion of the hemodialysis patients with serum <I>Candida</I> antigen were <I>C. albicans</I> (66.7%), <I>C. glabrata</I> (55.6%), <I>C. krusei</I> (11.1%), and <I>C. parapsilosis</I> (11.1%). There were no significant differences in age, hemodialysis periods, and the serum values of the nutrional markers (serum total protein, albumin, transferrin, and total cholesterol) between the hemodialysis patients with serum <I>Candida</I> antigen and those without. Generally, it is well known that hemodialysis patients are theso-called immunocompromised host. Therefore, it is necessary to examine serum <I>Candida</I> antigen and to determine <I>Candida</I> species in the oropharyngeal portion, wherewas first possible portion of mycotic infection, beforehand so as to predict the occurrence of invasive <I>Candidiasis</I>