KINETICS OF ANTIMANNAN ANTIBODIES USEFUL IN CONFIRMING INVASIVE CANDIDIASIS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

In studying the anti-mannan antibodies longitudinally in serial serum samples of three immunocompromised patients, it was observed that anti -mannan antibodies started to increase shortly after the moment that c ultures of deep-tissue sites became positive with Candida albicans. Th e mean anti-mannan antibody titers determined in a group of 36 immunoc ompromised patients with invasive candidiasis increased within two wee ks after the probable onset of invasive candidiasis. In contrast, anti -mannan antibody levels in serial serum samples of 14 immunocompromise d patients who were only colonized with C. albicans remained stable or decreased over time. The HA test measuring the anti-mannan antibodies was 64% sensitive and 89% specific in determining invasive candidiasi s, In contrast, antibodies specific for candidal cytoplasmic antigens or enolase alone were of little value in confirming invasive candidias is in these immunocompromised patients.