RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of T-helper (Th) and cytotoxic T (Tc) lymphocyte polarization in the pathogenesis of condyloma acuminatum (CA) and its correlation with recurrence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three-colour immunofluorescent flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of CD3+ CD8- /IFN-gamma+ (Th1), CD3+ CD8- /IL-4+ (Th2), CD3+ CD8+/IFN-gamma+ (Tc1) and CD3+ CD8+ /IL-4+ (Tc2) cells in the peripheral blood of CA patients and health controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to health controls, CA patients showed a decreased number of Th1 (P < 0.01) and Tc1 cells (P < 0.05), as well as a decreased Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratio (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in 15 recurrent CA patients the ratio of Th1/Th2 was remarkably decreased (P < 0.01), while the ratio of Tc1/Tc2 had no significant change in comparison with health controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decrease of Th1 and Tc1 subsets results in relative Th2 and Tc2 predominance, and this tendency is more significant in recurrent CA patients. The Th1 to Th2 and Tc1 to Tc2 shifts in CA patients could be responsible for the fact that human papilloma virus (HPV) is hard to be eliminated.</p>