In a group of 80 patients with chronic vaginal candidiasis and 23 healthy women the results of intradermal skin tests with antigens of microbial species Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Propionibacterum acnes were compared mutually and with controls, i.e. the vehicle of the diagnostic antigen. The tests were performed on the palmar surface of the forearm, the immediate reading of the reaction was taken after 20 minutes, the delayed one after 24 hours. Statistical analysis of immediate skin tests revealed in the sick women, as compared with the healthy ones, a significant hypersensitivity only to antigens of Candida albicans (p < 0.05). On comparison of skin reactions of the delayed type in the group of patients a significantly reduced response to all tested mycotic microorganisms was found - Candida albicans (p < 0.05), Candida krusei and glabrata (p < 0.01). The confirmed hypersensitivity of the immediate type to antigens of Candida albicans along with the significantly reduced delayed cellular response to candidae could play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease and protracted course with a tendency of relapses. Based on these findings it may be expected in chronic vaginal candidosis that a prolonged therapeutic effect will be produced rather by vaccination or other immunostimulating treatment than by local or systemic treatment with antimycotic agents.

        Key words: skin tests - microbial antigens - chronic vaginal candidiasis