Immunological studies in acute pseudomembranous esophageal candidiasis

Immunological studies in 3 patients with acute pseudomembranous esophageal candidiasis are presented. None of the patients had history or clinical signs of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. All 3 patients had an intact humoral response as measured by the presence of elevated candida agglutinating antibody titers. However, further investigations revealed a cell-mediated immune defect characterized by in vivo and in vitro anergy to candida antigen in these patients. Response to the other antigens was found to be intact in 2 of 3 patients. Successful medical therapy was associated with return of skin and lymphocyte reactivity to candida antigen in two cases.