Denture Stomatitis V Candida Agglutinins in Human Sera

Abstract

A quantitative estimate of the titer of agglutinins to Candida albicans was made in the serum of 303 persons wearing complete dentures. Ninety-nine persons had a clinically normal palatal mucosa, whereas 204 persons showed inflammatory changes (48 with localized simple inflammation, 80 with generalized simple and 76 with granular inflammation). Candida, harboured on the palatal mucosa, was diagnosed both by culture and by smears. Mycelium was found almost exclusively in smears from patients with the generalized simple and the granular type of denture stomatitis, and these groups of patients showed significantly higher titers as compared with the controls and the patients with the trauma-induced localized simple inflammation. A relationship was established between the severity of the involvement and the level of the antibody titer. Zero-titers, however, occurred so frequently in infected persons that the agglutinin reaction must be considered as an invaluable aid in establishing evidence of palatal candidiasis. It is noteworthy that high agglutinin titers occurring in patients who respond poorly to topical antifungal therapy may indicate systemic candidiasis, a serious condition that requires immediate systemic antifungal therapy.

Key Words:

• Denture
• complete
• Stomatitis
• Candida
• Antibodies