[Candidiasis of the esophagus. Prospective study of incidence, type of complaints and predisposing factors]. / Soorbefall der Speiseröhre. Eine prospektive Untersuchung von Häufigkeit, Beschwerdebild und prädisponierenden Faktoren.

Clinical findings, symptoms and predisposing factors were studied in 43 patients with oesophageal candidiasis, 40 patients with peptic oesophagitis and 40 normal controls. Oesophageal candidiasis was confirmed cytologically. 2.4% of patients who had undergone gastroscopy had oesophageal candidiasis; only three of them had simultaneous candidiasis of the oral cavity. Cardiac failure, oesophageal varices, hiatus hernia and gastric ulcer were common associated disorders. 42% of patients with candidal oesophagitis were symptom-free. Most common symptoms were vomiting, retrosternal and epigastric pain. Peptic oesophagitis was more frequently associated with symptoms. Predisposing factors were present in 88% of cases of oesophageal candidiasis: alcoholism, hepatic cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, malignant tumours and other wasting diseases. 18 patients had had treatment with cimetidine; they included all 13 patients whose candidiasis was first detected at check endoscopy.