title: Expression of interleukin-2 in Candidal balanoposthitis and its clinical significance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candidal balanoposthitis (CB) is a common male genital infection. Autoimmune mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CB. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important molecule in cell-mediated immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and one patients were diagnosed with CB using mycology culture in the dermatology and urology clinics in our hospital. Ninety-four healthy males were randomly selected as controls. We studied serum levels of IL-2 of patients with CB using ELISA and analyzed the correlations between serum IL-2 and clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IL-2 concentrations in CB patients were significantly lower than that in the control group ((7.80 ± 4.78) vs. (15.44 ± 7.90) ng/L; t = 2.27, P < 0.05). The incidence of CB in the low-level group was significantly higher than that in the high-level group (70% (71/101) vs. 36% (30/84), P < 0.05). Low levels of serum IL-2, comorbidity with other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and sexual partners with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) increased the risk of CB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pathogenesis of CB is a complex procedure that includes internal autoimmune factors.
authors: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Yun-xiao
authors: YX
authors: Zhou
authors: Xiao-dong
authors: XD
authors: Jin
authors: Shan-wen
authors: SW
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001446:Balanitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2