Yonago Acta medica 1996;37:195-204

Isolation of Oral Candida and Immunological Parameters for Head and Neck Cancer

Kazumi Okamoto, Kazuo Ryoke and Takeshi Hamada

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, Japan

Isolation of oral Candida and immunological parameters for 51 patients with head and neck cancer were investigated. The immunological parameters that were used in this study were lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4, CD8, CD4/8) and delayed-type skin reaction tests (Su-PS PHA PPD). There was no difference in the amounts of oral Candida isolated before and after radiation and chemotherapy. Isolation of oral Candida after surgery was higher than before surgery, and it seemed to be affected by the administration of antibiotics. In all treatment phases, C. albicans was the dominant species followed in onder by C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. Isolation of C. albicans was increased after surgery, but C. albicans and C. glabrata changed to the same number at 1 month after surgery. Peripheral blool lymphocyte counts and the lymphocyte subpopulation of CD4 decreased after radiation and chemotherapy, and the total lymphocyte counts, CD4, CD4/8 and the diameter of the response to the PPD skin test decreased after surgery. None of the other immunological parameters changed significantly in any treatment phase. Since the isolation of oral Candida increased and negative change of immunological parameters after treatnent (mainly surgery), control of oral Candida may be important during the care of head and neck cancer patients for the prevention of systemic and local candidiasis.

Key words: delayed-type skin reaction test; immunological parameters; isolation of oral Candida; Iymphocyte subpopulation

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