Expression of interleukin-2 in Candidal balanoposthitis and its clinical significance

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.Conclusion The pathogenesis of CB is a complex procedure that includes internal autoimmune factors.