[Role of beta-glucan in the treatment of recurrent candidiasis and HPV-correlated lesions and reparative process of epidermis].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine the effects of beta-glucan treatment in women with recurrent vulvar candidiasis or previously treated with diathermocoagulation (DTC) for vulvar lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.


METHODS
From January to March 2008, 23 women with a history of recurrent candidiasis and 209 women who underwent to DTC for HPV-correlated vulvar lesions were recruited at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaeco-logy of San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital of Rome. The two groups were treated with two cycles of a daily topical application of beta-glucan for 15 consecutive days with a suspension of 20 days. The effects of beta-glucan were analyzed at the 1st and the 3rd month from the start of the therapy.


RESULTS
A total of 209 women, 21 with recurrent candidiasis and 188 who underwent to DTC for HPV-correlated lesions, completed the study. After the first month of treatment we not found any evidence of disease in both groups; otherwise we observed, a month after the term of the therapy, 5% and 3% of recurrence of candidiasis or lesions secondary to HPV infection, respectively, even if with low grade.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate the efficacy of beta-glucan treatment for recurrent candidiasis, HPV-correlated lesions and in the reparative process of epidermis.
Pietrantoni
E
E
Servizio di Colposcopia ed Isteroscopia, Dipartimento Materno-Infantile Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini, Roma, Italia. anguela@libero.it
Signore
F
F
Berardi
G
G
Donadio
F
F
Donadio
C
C
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D047071:beta-Glucans