NIH Conference Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis: Model-Building in Cellular Immunity

Infection with Candida albicans develops in diverse clinical settings. It may be minimal or life-threatening in severity, depending on the site of infection and clinical circumstance. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is an uncommon superficial infection of the skin, nails, and oral and vaginal mucous membranes, and is often associated with defects in cellular immune function. Untreated, the course is usually unremitting. Intravenous amphotericin B often results in regression or clearing of infection, but relapse generally occurs after discontinuation of therapy. Twelve patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis have been studied at the National Institutes of Health. Specific defects in cellular immunity have been characterized in eight of these patients. Cutaneous anergy to Candida antigen