[Candidiasis of the esophagus. Prospective study of incidence, type of complaints and predisposing factors].

Clinical findings, symptoms and predisposing factors were studied in 43 patients with oesophageal candidiasis, 40 patients with peptic oesophagitis and 40 normal controls. Oesophageal candidiasis was confirmed cytologically. 2.4% of patients who had undergone gastroscopy had oesophageal candidiasis; only three of them had simultaneous candidiasis of the oral cavity. Cardiac failure, oesophageal varices, hiatus hernia and gastric ulcer were common associated disorders. 42% of patients with candidal oesophagitis were symptom-free. Most common symptoms were vomiting, retrosternal and epigastric pain. Peptic oesophagitis was more frequently associated with symptoms. Predisposing factors were present in 88% of cases of oesophageal candidiasis: alcoholism, hepatic cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, malignant tumours and other wasting diseases. 18 patients had had treatment with cimetidine; they included all 13 patients whose candidiasis was first detected at check endoscopy.