The relationship between incurable gastric ulcer and Candida albicans at the ulcer base I. Immuno-fluorescent study of human gastric ulcer using anti-Candida albicans antisera

Forty-seven cases of gastric ulcer including some with ulcerated carcinoma were investigated by an immuno-fluorescent technique using anti-Candida albicans antisera. Fresh tissue containing ulcer base was also stained with PAS reagent. Candida albicans at the ulcer base was positive for fluorescence. The cytoplasm of many histiocytes was also fluorescent. Histiocytes were predominant at the ulcer base and were present even in the muscular and subserosal layers. The cytoplasm of these cells was PAS-positive. These data suggest that Candida albicans at the necrotic ulcer base is not a simple opportunistic growth, but that some of its watersoluble factor may be involved in the poor curability of gastric ulcer.