Oral candidiasis is associated with low levels of parotid calprotectin in individuals with infection due to human immunodeficiency virus.

The level of the antifungal leukocyte protein calprotectin was determined in parotid saliva from 44 individuals with infection due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 19 healthy HIV-seronegative controls. Nine of the HIV-infected subjects suffered from oral candidiasis. Similar calprotectin levels were found in subjects with HIV infection as a whole group and in controls. When HIV-infected individuals with or without oral candidiasis were compared, the calprotectin level was significantly lower in the former group (67 micrograms/L vs. 216 micrograms/L). We suggest that calprotectin may play a role in the defense against oral candidal infections in HIV-infected patients, although several other antimicrobial factors also are probably operative.