Serologic response to Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus in cystic fibrosis.

In order to evaluate the role of fungi in patients with cystic fibrosis, we determined serum IgG antibodies against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus using an indirect ELISA in patients with or without fungi in the sputum and in sera of healthy individuals. For both C. albicans and A. fumigatus the antibody levels were significantly higher in the CF groups than in the control group, regardless of whether these fungi could be isolated during the observation time or not. In contrast to A. fumigatus, we found that in the majority of cases antibody levels increase significantly with the isolation of C. albicans from sputum. Therefore, we conclude that one has to pay more attention to C. albicans in CF patients. One must also particularly reevaluate long-term antibiotic treatment and look for means to prevent fungal recolonization and reinfection.