VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS IN COMBINATION WITH BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE: FEATURES OF PATHOGENESIS AND TREATMENT

Abstract

The aim. Reducing the recurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in combination with bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women of reproductive age by studying the pathogenesis and improving the algorithm of treatment and prevention measures. Materials and methods. During the study, 150 women of reproductive age who had the same clinical manifestations of VVC and BV were selected and divided into 3 groups of 50 women: Group I was treated with an antimicrobial combination drug (miconazole with topical metronidazole), group II – the same drug in combination with probiotic (lactobacilli) in candles, group III – according to the algorithm improved by the authors. In addition, a control group was formed, which included healthy women of reproductive age.  To establish the pathogenesis of VVC in combination with BV in the studied women, the concentration of cytokines and adhesion molecules in the blood before and after treatment was determined and compared with the control group. The clinical effect of different treatments was assessed at 3, 7, 10, 14 days, and the presence of relapses – 1, 3, 6 months after treatment. Results. The occurrence of a combination of VVC and BV in women of reproductive age is accompanied by a significant increase in the level of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1) along with a statistically significant increase in proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6) (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8)) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) - TNF-α. As a result of the application of the algorithm improved by the authors, higher clinical efficiency and the ability to avoid recurrence of VVC in combination with BV in women of reproductive age were obtained. Conclusions. The authors' substantiated improvement of the algorithm of VVC treatment in combination with BV in women of reproductive age makes it possible to reduce the frequency of their recurrence and restore the biocenosis of the vagina to normal. In the case of this pathology there is an increase in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8), TNF-α and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.