IgA and IgG serum antibodies to Candida albicans in women of child-bearing age.

IgA and IgG antibodies against Candida albicans culture filtrate were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from 84 pregnant and 21 non-pregnant women. IgA Candida antibody levels were found not to change significantly with age, whereas IgG Candida antibody levels were significantly higher in women aged 27 to 35 years than in women less than 24 years of age. Neither IgA nor IgG Candida antibody levels were related to the number of pregnancies. In a subgroup of 45 pregnant women examined for yeasts in the oral, anal and vaginal flora IgA Candida antibody levels were significantly higher in 13 women with negative cultures than in 19 women with recovery of C. albicans on plates. Intermediate levels of IgA Candida antibodies were found in 9 women with negative plate cultures, but positive enrichment broth cultures of C. albicans. All of 15 women with IgA ELISA values less than or equal to 0.51 had yeast-positive cultures compared with 17 of 30 women with IgA ELISA values greater than 0.51. This may suggest a role of IgA antibodies in the clearance of C. albicans from mucosal surfaces in healthy individuals.