[Usefulness of the coccidioidin skin test in patients with type diabetes mellitus in an endemic zone].

OBJECTIVE

There are few studies available about skin response to mycotic antigens in diabetes mellitus subjects, therefore, the possible difference of skin reactivity to coccidioidin in subjects with and without diabetes mellitus was analyzed.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The prevalence of skin reactivity to coccidioidin in a population sample of 1651 subjects in a coccidioidomycosis endemic zone was estimated using a transversal design. Subjects with diabetes mellitus were identified and the diagnosis was validated by clinical and laboratory criteria. In order to determine the reactivity association level with the diabetes mellitus history, data was compared with the population sample, through logistic regression 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 coccidioidin 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 ratio 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 regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Coccidioidin reactivity was lower in the diabetes mellitus cases than in general population. It is necessary to be cautious with the coccidioidin test interpretation in people with DM 2.