Lethal candida sepsis associated with myeloperoxidase deficiency and pre-eclampsia.

We report on a 27-year-old primipara suffering from pre-eclampsia who died within 2 days postpartum. Toxemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and acute renal failure had masked the symptoms of invasive candida esophagitis and disseminated candidiasis in both lungs. Candida sepsis was discovered as the cause of death at postmortem examination. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) deficiency was identified as having supported the invasive candida infection. We conclude that a combination of MPO-deficiency and gestational toxemia may indicate increased susceptibility to severe candida infections.