title: Vaginal allergic response in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the concentration of certain cytokines and immunoglobulin (Ig) E in the vaginal lavage fluid (VLF) of women with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytokin and IgE concentrations were measured in the VLF of women with VVC; women free of any genital infections acted as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VLF concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-8, and interferon (INF)-gamma were higher among women with VVC than in the control group; women with severe VVC had a higher VLF concentration of IL-4 than those with mild to moderate VVC; women with cured VVC had a higher VLF concentration of IL-13 than did controls; and women with VVC or cured VVC had a higher VLF concentration of IgE than did controls (P<0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both helper T cells type 1 and innate response cytokines were shown to play a dominant role in the pathogenesis of VVC. This allergic vaginal response in women with VVC suggests that the form of treatment for VVC should be reconsidered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Q P
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: X P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry*; D044364:Vaginal Douching
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016209:Interleukin-8; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma