%0 Journal Article %J Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol %D 2018 %T Cytokine profiles of women with vulvodynia: Identification of a panel of pro-inflammatory molecular targets. %A Zanotta, Nunzia %A Campisciano, Giuseppina %A Scrimin, Federica %A Blendi, Ura %A Marcuzzi, Annalisa %A Vincenti, Ezio %A Crovella, Sergio %A Comar, Manola %K Adult %K Aged %K Cytokines %K Female %K Humans %K Inflammation %K Middle Aged %K Vaginal Smears %K Vulva %K Vulvodynia %K Women's Health %X

OBJECTIVE: The vulvar pain syndrome (VPS) is a multifactorial disease severely influencing the lifestyle of affected women. Among possible etiological factors, local injury, peripheral and/or central sensitization of the nervous system, and a chronic inflammatory status have been positively associated with the development of VPS. The identification of a constitutive altered local inflammatory profile in VPS women may represent an important point in the characterization of patients' phenotype as a useful marker influencing the vulvar micro-environment. The aim of this study was to investigative the possible role of the local cytokines production in women with VPS in comparison to healthy women.

STUDY DESIGN: In this study were collected vaginal swabs from 57 healthy women (HC) who never suffered from VPS and from 30 patients diagnosed with vulvodynia (VPS) by at least 3 years and currently symptomatic. All patients included in this study showed the absence of Sexually Transmitted (STD) diseases and Reproductive Tract Infection. Real-time PCR was performed to assess the genomic sequences of ST pathogens. The Luminex Bio-Plex platform was used for the analysis of a panel of 48 immune factors.

RESULTS: Eleven molecules, specifically involved in the pro-inflammatory pathway were significantly modulated in VPS patients in comparison to healthy women, suggesting a persistent inflammatory process.

CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, these inflammatory factors could be possible biological markers involved in this disease. Nevertheless, other studies are needed to consider this specific immune profile as a valid marker of the vulvodynia.

%B Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol %V 226 %P 66-70 %8 2018 Jul %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29852336?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.05.035