Conflict of interest: none declared.
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Candida spp. colonization and serum anticandidal antibody levels in patients with chronic urticaria
Article first published online: 18 OCT 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2007.02512.x
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How to Cite
Ergon, M. C., Iĺknur, T., Yućesoy, M. and Oźkan, Ş. (2007), Candida spp. colonization and serum anticandidal antibody levels in patients with chronic urticaria. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 32: 740–743. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2007.02512.x
This study was presented at the 16th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Nice, France, 1–4 April 2006.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 18 OCT 2007
- Article first published online: 18 OCT 2007
- Accepted for publication 21 April 2007
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Summary
Background. The role of Candida infections in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria (CU) is debatable.
Objective. In this study, we investigated the role of Candida spp. colonization and infection in patients with CU.
Methods. In total, 38 patients with CU and a control group of 42 healthy individuals consented for inclusion in the study. Stool and oral specimens from all participants were cultured and evaluated quantitatively. Candida albicans ELISA IgG/IgM/IgA test kits were used for the detection of antibodies against C. albicans in the sera of patients and controls.
Results. Yeasts were isolated from the stools of 60.5% of the patients and 50.0% of the controls (P = 0.78, Student's t-test) and from oral specimens in 47.4% and 42.9% (P = 0.85, Student's t-test), respectively. Colony counts in the positive specimens of both groups were not significantly different. IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies were positive in 36.8%, 23.8% and 5.3% of the patients and in 42.9%, 19.1% and 4.8% of the controls, respectively. The qualitative and quantiative results of the antibodies were not significantly different between the two groups (χ2 test).
Conclusion. Intestinal and oral colonization of Candida spp. and serological evidence of Candida infections were not significantly different between patients with CU and controls. Claims of triggering of CU by Candida spp. should be explored in studies that measure allergic reactivity to Candida, and also in those that include eradication therapy.