Candida overgrowth in gastric juice of peptic ulcer subjects on short- and long-term treatment with h₂-receptor antagonists

Candida overgrowth in gastric juice of peptic ulcer subjects under therapy with H₂-receptor (H₂-R) antagonists has been detected in 21.4 and 53.8% of cases after short- and long-term treatment respectively, and in 8 % of controls. Both types of H₂-R antagonists, ranitidine and cimetidine, were equally associated with production of yeasts. The location of ulcers, whether gastric or duodenal, seems to have no influence on fungal growth. Females were more susceptible than males to develop Candida in gastric juice. In the short-term course with H₂-R blockers fungal colonization of gastric juice was associated with delay of the rate of ulcer healing. Fungal detection in gastric juice was not associated with mucosal invasion by Candida since in none of the patients who had a biopsy for gastric ulcer was Candida detected by histology.