ASSOCIATION OF RECURRENT VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS AND SECRETORY ABO AND LEWIS PHENOTYPE

The relationship between ABO-Le secretor phenotype and susceptibility to recurrent idiopathic vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) was investigat ed. ABO and Lewis blood typing was done for 38 women with RVVC (case-p atients) and for women in 2 control groups, consisting of 58 healthy w omen, who were friends identified by case-patients, and 38 race-matche d, healthy hospital employees. The 3 groups were similar with regard t o age and race, There was no difference in the distribution of ABO phe notype between case-patients and controls, Case-patients were more lik ely than members of either control group to have Le(a+b-) (nonsecretor ) rather than Le(a-b+) (secretor) blood type. With combined nonsecreto r Le(a+b-) phenotype and absence of the Lewis gene Le(a-b-), the relat ive risk of chronic recurring vulvovaginal candidiasis was 2.41-4.39, depending on the analysis technique and control group. In conclusion, there is an increased frequency of ABO-Le nonsecretor status among wom en with RVVC.