The authors reviewed data on 1519 patients referred to the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN), a US NIH funded network linking seven clinical sites. 53% of patients were female and their symptoms were neurologic (40%), musculoskeletal (10%), immunological (7%), gastrointestinal (7%), or rheumatological (6%). Of the 382 patients who had a complete evaluation, the UDN was able to establish the diagnosis in 132 (35%), many of which resulted in changes in management. 31 new syndromes were defined.

The combined use of amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine in the treatment of two children with Candida albicans meningitis is described. Therapy consisted of nine to 13 days of iv amphotericin B, combined with, or followed by six to nine weeks of oral 5-FC. Each organism was sensitive to 5-FC before starting therapy. Resistance did not develop during therapy. CSF administration was not necessary and toxic reactions were minimal and transient; neither patient has suffered a recurrence four years and 14 months, respectively, after discontinuance of therapy. The combination of short-term therapy with iv amphotericin B plus long-term oral 5-FC was successful in these two patients.