[Esophageal candidiasis in AIDS patients. A clinical and microbiological study]

18 AIDS patients who presented high gastrointestinal symptoms or lesions in the oral cavity suggestive of candidiasis were studied. Clinical data, specimen of the oral cavity, biopsies and esophageal brushing, as well as serum from all patients were obtained. Dysphagia was the main symptom observed in the esophageal candidiasis. Candida albicans was the most isolated species with a predominance of serotype A. The protein profiles of 12 strains belonging to this species were analyzed by the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and it was found that their molecular weight patterns were identical, which indicates that the same strain is in the oral cavity and in the esophagus. The response of the anti-C. albicans antibodies was evaluated. The double immunodiffusion was not useful for the diagnosis of esophageal candidiasis.