Clinical-useful of coccidioidin skin test in subjects with type 2 diabetesmellitus in an endemic area

Objective. There are few studies available about skin response to mycotic a ntigens in diabetes mellitus subjects, therefore, the possible difference o f skin reactivity to coccidioidin in subjects with and without diabetes mel litus was analized. Material and methods. The prevalence of skin reactivity to coccidioidin in a population sample of 1651 subjects in a coccidioidomi cosis endemic zone was estimated using a transversal design. Subjects with diabetes mellitus were identified and the diagnosis was validated by clinic al and laboratory criteria. In order to determine the reactivity associatio n level with the diabetes mellitus history, data was compared with the popu lation sample, through logistic regresion analysis adjusted by age, sex and residence geographical area. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were obtained. Results. In the population study, there were 665 coccidioidi n positive subjects (40.28% rate). Seventy six cases with diabetes mellitus were identified, 23 were positive to the test (30.26% rate) with an odds r atio of 0.63 for this group (95% CI 0.37-1.07). The OR decrease to 0.52 (95 % CI 0.31-0.88, p=0.014) with the adjusted logistic regresion analysis. Con clusion. Coccidioidin reactivity was lower in the diabetes mellitus cases t han in general population. It is necessary to be cautelous with the coccidi oidin test interpretation in people with DM 2.