DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF DETERMINATION OF SERUM MANNAN CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CANDIDURIA

The diagnostic value of determination of serum mannan levels was studi ed in 41 patients with candiduria and 20 control patients without cand iduria. The patients with candiduria comprised 18 asymptomatic afebril e patients (group 1) and 23 febrile patients with suspected Candida py elonephritis (group 2). Mannan antigenemia (greater-than-or-equal-to 0 .5 ng/ml) was detected in 14 patients in group 2, this rate being sign ificantly higher than the rate of four patients in group 1 (p < 0.05) and none in the control group (p < 0.01). Serum mannan levels decrease d gradually and became undetectable in six patients in whom therapy wi th an anticandidal agent was effective. Determination of serum mannan levels may be a useful parameter in diagnosing Candida pyelonephritis and deciding on effective treatment.