BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infection after hepatic resection constitutes a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We examined the role of Candida antigen in systemic immunity and the infectious complications after hepatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 25 hepatectomized patients, the Candida antigen titers were measured by a latex agglutination test (CAND-TEC). In the patients with Candida antigen (n = 10; 40%) and those without (n = 15; 60%), multiple immunological parameters, including the total lymphocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulations, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response, and natural killer (NK) activity, and the incidence of infectious complications were compared. RESULTS: In the preoperative and operative parameters, there were no significant differences between the two groups. In the postoperative immune parameters, a significant attenuation in the total lymphocyte number (p < 0.01) and NK activity (p < 0.01) was observed in the patients with Candida antigen, compared with the findings in patients without Candida antigen. A bacterial infection was identified in 5 of 10 patients (50.0%) with Candida antigen, and in 1 of 15 patients (6.7%) without Candida antigen (p < 0.05). In contrast, the Candida culture was negative for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both a profound attenuation of systemic immunity and frequent bacterial infections were observed in the hepatectomized patients with Candida antigen.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infection after hepatic resection constitutes a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We examined the role of Candida antigen in systemic immunity and the infectious complications after hepatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 25 hepatectomized patients, the Candida antigen titers were measured by a latex agglutination test (CAND-TEC). In the patients with Candida antigen (n = 10; 40%) and those without (n = 15; 60%), multiple immunological parameters, including the total lymphocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulations, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response, and natural killer (NK) activity, and the incidence of infectious complications were compared. RESULTS: In the preoperative and operative parameters, there were no significant differences between the two groups. In the postoperative immune parameters, a significant attenuation in the total lymphocyte number (p < 0.01) and NK activity (p < 0.01) was observed in the patients with Candida antigen, compared with the findings in patients without Candida antigen. A bacterial infection was identified in 5 of 10 patients (50.0%) with Candida antigen, and in 1 of 15 patients (6.7%) without Candida antigen (p < 0.05). In contrast, the Candida culture was negative for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both a profound attenuation of systemic immunity and frequent bacterial infections were observed in the hepatectomized patients with Candida antigen.
Authors: Darren G Craig; Patricia Lee; E Anne Pryde; Ernest Hidalgo; Peter C Hayes; Stephen J Wigmore; Stuart J Forbes; Kenneth J Simpson Journal: Case Rep Transplant Date: 2014-01-29