Aim: This study try to establish a correlation between cell mediated immune response in pregnancy and vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Materials and methods: The study has comprised a number of 35 pregnant women with age between 16 and 35 years, without any pregnancy associated pathology and whose clinical signs indicated vulvovaginal candidiasis with positive microbiological exam. The range of pregnancy age has varied between 12 and 38 weeks. On venous blood samples, the quantitative and qualitative studies of lymphocyte populations have been performed through flow-cytometry and phytohemagglutinin stimulation respectively. The identification of yeast strains has been done through biochemical tests. Also, a witness lot consisting of healthy pregnant women has been studied.

Results: The mean number of lymphocytes (CD3+) has been higher in case of patients suffering of vulvovaginal candidiasis, but it varied between physiological limits. The cytotoxic/suppresive lymphocytes percent (CD8+) in pregnant women with fungal vaginitis is significant higher than those occurred in healthy pregnant women (p=0.00584, CI 95%). The mean values of T helper lymphocytes (CD4+) have varied between normal limits, the low value occuring for Candida glabrata infections (41,4%). The mean values of CD4+/CD8+ ratio significantly differ in pregnant women with fungal infections (1,66) and in healthy pregnant women (1,30). From qualitative point of view, an increase of cell mediated immune response has been observed.

Discussion: The results of this study highlighted the fact that in pregnancy there is no globally decrements of T lymphocytes number and only qualitative/quantitative modifications of lymphocyte populations may occur. These findings highly correlate with an increased frequency of fungal vulvovaginitis in pregnant women.