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Cimetidine as an Immunomodulator: Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis as a Model
- JOSEPH L. JORIZZO, M.D.;
- W. MITCHELL SAMS, Jr., M.D.;
- BRIAN V. JEGASOTHY, M.D.; and
- ALAN J. OLANSKY, M.D.
Abstract
Four adult patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis were studied to establish a possible role for cimetidine as an immunomodulator. These patients had negative baseline in-vivo and in-vitro cell-mediated immune response to candida antigen as measured by intradermal skin tests, lymphocyte transformation, and leukocyte migration inhibitory factor production to candida antigen. Patients were given a 4-week course of cimetidine, 300 mg by mouth, four times daily. Subsequently four of four patients developed strong (> 15 mm) intradermal skin test reactions, and two of four patients produced leukocyte migration inhibitory factor to candida antigen. Skin tests and leukocyte migration inhibitory factor production reverted to baseline negative values when repeated 4 weeks after discontinuation of therapy. After 4 additional weeks on cimetidine, four of four patients showed strong positive skin tests and leukocyte migration inhibitory factor production to candida antigen. Lymphocyte transformation was not affected by therapy.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Department of Dermatology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill; and the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center; Durham, North Carolina.
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Grant support: in part by Public Health Service Research Grant RP-46 from the General Clinical Research Centers Branch of Division of Research Sources and a grant from the Medical Research Service of the Veterans Administration Service.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to W. Mitchell Sams, Jr., M.D.; Department of Dermatology, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
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- Received July 16, 1979.
- Accepted November 21, 1979.
- © 1980 American College of Physicians
