OBJECTIVE: Recurring vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC) is a common vaginal discharge, affecting 75% of all women at least once in their life. In 5% of these women, this infection is recurring. Recent studies have focused on determining the importance of vaginal-associated immunity. To investigate the effects of immune mediators and the probability of an immune defect as well as localized allergic responses due to candida, we examined the cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 as well as prostaglandin E(2) (PgE(2)), candida-specific IgE and total-IgE in patients with a clinical diagnosis of RVVC. STUDY DESIGN: In 104 symptomatic and 41 asymptomatic patients, regarding clinical symptoms of RVVC, vaginal fluids were measured by ELISA for the immune mediators IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, PgE(2), candida-specific IgE and total-IgE. Polymerase chain reactions as well as culture were used for candida detection. RESULTS: Concerning IL-5, IL-13 and total-IgE no statistically significant difference was found. Those women with a history of RVVC and who were currently symptomatic had elevated concentrations of IL-4 (p<.0001), PgE(2) (p<.0001) and candida-specific IgE (p<0.02) in their vaginal fluids compared to women with no clinical symptoms. Those three interleukins showed no significant differences between symptomatic patients who were positive or negative for Candida albicans or Candida glabrata. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that women with clinical vaginal symptoms have a localized vaginal immunosuppression which might be the cause of their symptoms. Greatly elevated vaginal PgE(2) levels can be a consequence of a localized allergic response. An allergic reaction to candida components may be the cause of the allergic response in those women with high levels of candida-specific IgE. In women with elevated PgE(2), treatment with an antihistamine or prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor might be beneficial.
OBJECTIVE: Recurring vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC) is a common vaginal discharge, affecting 75% of all women at least once in their life. In 5% of these women, this infection is recurring. Recent studies have focused on determining the importance of vaginal-associated immunity. To investigate the effects of immune mediators and the probability of an immune defect as well as localized allergic responses due to candida, we examined the cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 as well as prostaglandin E(2) (PgE(2)), candida-specific IgE and total-IgE in patients with a clinical diagnosis of RVVC. STUDY DESIGN: In 104 symptomatic and 41 asymptomatic patients, regarding clinical symptoms of RVVC, vaginal fluids were measured by ELISA for the immune mediators IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, PgE(2), candida-specific IgE and total-IgE. Polymerase chain reactions as well as culture were used for candida detection. RESULTS: Concerning IL-5, IL-13 and total-IgE no statistically significant difference was found. Those women with a history of RVVC and who were currently symptomatic had elevated concentrations of IL-4 (p<.0001), PgE(2) (p<.0001) and candida-specific IgE (p<0.02) in their vaginal fluids compared to women with no clinical symptoms. Those three interleukins showed no significant differences between symptomatic patients who were positive or negative for Candida albicans or Candida glabrata. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that women with clinical vaginal symptoms have a localized vaginal immunosuppression which might be the cause of their symptoms. Greatly elevated vaginal PgE(2) levels can be a consequence of a localized allergic response. An allergic reaction to candida components may be the cause of the allergic response in those women with high levels of candida-specific IgE. In women with elevated PgE(2), treatment with an antihistamine or prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor might be beneficial.
Authors: W Mendling; K Friese; I Mylonas; E-R Weissenbacher; J Brasch; M Schaller; P Mayser; I Effendy; G Ginter-Hanselmayer; H Hof; O Cornely; M Ruhnke Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2015-04 Impact factor: 2.915
Authors: Caroline Mitchell; Jennifer E Balkus; Jennifer McKernan-Mullin; Susan E Cohn; Amneris E Luque; Christina Mwachari; Craig R Cohen; Robert Coombs; Lisa M Frenkel; Jane Hitti Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2013-02-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Rebecca R Achterman; David L Moyes; Selvam Thavaraj; Adam R Smith; Kris M Blair; Theodore C White; Julian R Naglik Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2015-02-09 Impact factor: 3.441
Authors: José Schneider; Estibaliz Mateo; Cristina Marcos-Arias; Noemi Eiró; Francisco Vizoso; Román Pérez-Fernández; Elena Eraso; Guillermo Quindós Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2018-11-21 Impact factor: 5.640