Evaluation of serum arabinitol as a diagnostic test for candidiasis.

Gas-liquid chromatography was used to quantitate the arabinitol concentration in the sera of patients with candidiasis and in that of control patients. Serum arabinitol was elevated in 59% (n = 34) of patients with Candida sepsis, in 39% (n = 38) with Candida colonization, in 14% (n = 62) with bacterial sepsis, and in 0% (n = 11) of normal persons. The above patients were subsequently divided on the basis of renal function. Of those with decreased renal function, serum arabinitol was elevated in 89, 92, and 50% of patients with Candida sepsis, Candida colonization, and bacterial sepsis, respectively. Of those with normal renal function, serum arabinitol was elevated in only 23 and 14% of patients with Candida sepsis and Candida colonization, respectively. When serum arabinitol/creatine ratios were calculated for patients with both increased arabinitol and increased creatinine, elevated ratios were obtained in 69, 36, and 0% of patients with Candida sepsis, Candida colonization, and bacterial sepsis, respectively.