title: Mannan-binding lectin in women with a history of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the serum concentration of mannan-binding lectin (MBL), a component of the innate immune system, in women with a history of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) and to correlate the result to candida-cultures, contraceptive use, if any, and to different antifungal therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine women with a history of RVVC were investigated. Cultures of vulvar and vaginal samples were grown on chromogenic agar. Serum levels of MBL were determined by a sandwich time-resolved immunofluorometric assay, using anti-MBL coated microtiter wells containing samples, which were washed, incubated with biotinylated anti-MBL followed by europium-labeled streptavidin and measured by time-resolved flourometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median MBL level was higher in the RVVC cases than in 30 women with no history of genital candida infection who served as a comparison group (p=0.006). It was also higher in the candida-positive than in the culture-negative RVVC (p=0.02). The median concentration of MBL was also higher in hormonal contraceptive users as compared to condom-users and those using no contraceptive at all (p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result indicates a role of MBL in RVVC and the production may correlate to vulvar/vaginal colonization by Candida, hormonal contraceptive use, and antifungal therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. emir.henic@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Emir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henić
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Per-Anders
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mårdh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000097:blood*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin