Mucocutaneous Candidiasis in a Mother and Son

A mother and son had chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Vertical inheritance from a mother to son is extremely rare. An attempt was made to identify a defect that would predispose them to their chronic Candida infection. Neutrophil function studies failed to reveal a defect that could be correlated with the pathogenesis of the disease. Both patients failed to demonstrate cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity to Candida albicans antigen but had specific humoral antibodies to the organism. In vitro studies of cellular immunity revealed multiple defects. Endocrine evaluation of the son led to the finding of previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism.