The relationship of pregnancy, vaginal candidiasis and glucose metabolism.

In 72 pregnant women with culture-proved vaginal candidiasis, and an equal number of controls matched for parity, size, stage of gestation and age, the intravenous glucose tolerance curves were compared using Silverstone's method. The results in both study and control groups did not differ and resembled closely those in Silverstone's series. Half the study group were treated using nystatin alone, while the other half also received tolbutamide. The cure rate was equal in the two groups. Candidiasis in pregnancy does not appear to be related to altered glucose metabolism nor does the addition of this hypoglycemic drug (tolbutamide) improve results. No ill effects, fetal or maternal, were apparent following the use of tolbutamide.