Balance of vaginal content in vaginosis-vaginitis differential diagnosis: Vaginal inflammatory reaction in symptomatic pregnant women

• Published in: Acta bioquímica clínica latinoamericana Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 247 - 258
• Main Authors: Di Bartolomeo, Susana, Leonino, Antonia Patricia, Rodriguez Fermepin, Marcelo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: 01-06-2007
• ISSN: 0325-2957

This study was undertaken to demonstrate the high diagnostic predictive value of BACOVA (Balance of Vaginal Content, www.fba.org.ar/proeco) for bacterial vaginosis and microbial non specific vaginitis, in pregnant women primary health care. BACOVA including Nugent score (Gram 1000X) and leucocyte count (Wet mount and Giemsa, using 400X) was evaluated in 299 symptomatic pregnant women. Nugent score 7 to 10 was detected in 16.4%. Crossing Nugent value 7 to 10 with leucocytes counts shows that only 11.7% were below 10 leucocytes per field and 4.7% had a significant vaginal inflammatory response. Yeasts were detected in 20.4% but only in 7.2% of cases they show a significant association with vaginal inflammatory response. In 2.7% of the cases there was a significant vaginal inflammatory response, with pH below 4.5, VN from 0 to 3 and negative for TV, fishy odor, and exogenous microbial morphotypes. Simultaneous study of vaginal inflammatory response and Nugent score is mandatory in order to detect true cases of bacterial vaginosis (11.7%) from those of potential microbial non specific vaginitis (4.7%) (Donders' 'aerobic vaginitis') Besides, vaginal inflammatory response became a strong criterion to define yeast vulvovaginitis (7.2%). Cases (2.7%) with score 0 to 3, negative for other criteria, with a high vaginal inflammatory response, are predictors of upper genital infections.