Diagnostic value of monitoring kinetics of antibody responses in candidiasis by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay.

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was used to monitor antibody binding to cytoplasmic antigens of Candida albicans in sera from patients with superficial or deep-seated candidiasis over extended observation periods. Healthy persons showed a constant level of Candida antibodies. Patients with superficial candidiasis or colonization generally had a slow, but significant rise; patients with presumptive and proven systemic candidiasis, however, developed rapid rises (up to forty-fold) of antibody levels within a few days. This method permitted the kinetics of antibody response to be followed and, thus, appeared to aid in the differentiation among the various forms of candidiasis.