Atopic profile of patients with chronic vulvovaginitis

Background. The recurrent vulvovaginitis is one of the most common diseases of the female reproductive system. In women the sensitization to various allergens can contribute to recurrences of vulvovaginitis. The purpose of the study was to compare the prevalence rate of hypersensitivity to aero-, food and contact allergens in patients with chronic vulvovaginitis of different origin. Methods. In cross-sectional study 88 patients of reproductive age were divided into the following groups: 52 women with chronic vulvovaginitis [18 patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), 17 patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV), 17 patients with non-specific vaginitis (NSV)] and 36 control patients. Laboratory studies included measurement of vaginal Ph, vaginal eosinophil count by microscopy, and serum IgE level by ELISA. All patients underwent the skin prick tests with aero-, food and fungal allergens, and patch skin tests with contact allergens. Results. The patients with VVC had the highest rate of sensitization to fungal allergens in skin allergy test (p=0,0002). The rate of positive patch-tests result with at least one allergen was higher in this group of patients (66,7%) and in patients with NSV (88,2%) compared to patients with BV (17,6%) and control group (8,3%) of women (p<0,0001). The total IgE level was significantly higher in women with chronic vulvovaginitis 114,5±158,5 IU/mL compared to the control group of women - 48,7±74,8 IU/mL (p=0,0229). Also the patients with chronic vulvovaginitis had the highest levels of antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus (p=0,0524) and Candida albicans (p=0,2294). Conclusion. Allergic inflammation can play a key role in the recurrence of vulvovaginitis and the resistance to standard therapy in this group of patients.

chronic vulvovaginitis, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, allergic vulvovaginitis, allergic inflammation of gentiles