Lack of circulating Candida mannoprotein antigen in patients with focal hepatosplenic candidiasis.

The significance of Candida mannoprotein serum detection in 15 patients with haematological malignancies and proven (six cases) or probable (nine cases) hepatosplenic candidiasis was retrospectively evaluated. Circulating mannoprotein antigen was detected in three of six and in one of two serum samples from two patients with probable infection. The antigen was not detected in 38 serum samples of 13 (87%) patients. Thus, in contrast to other deep-seated Candida infections, mannoprotein is infrequently detectable during focal hepatosplenic candidiasis and does not appear to be of diagnostic value.