An impact of the combined drug containing antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antifungal and glucocorticoid agents on local immunity in women with bacterial vaginosis and non-specific vaginitis

Abstract

Inflammatory diseases of the vagina related to imbalanced microflora composition represent one of the most common gynecological diseases primarily dealt with by obstetrician/gynecologists. Such diseases markedly worsen female patient quality of life as well as affect female reproductive system resulting both in altered fertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. By now, multiple therapeutic and preventive protocols have been proposed to manage such diseases, but insufficient therapeutic efficacy and frequent relapses require further investigations. The aim of the study was to evaluate an effect of the drug Elgyna (Wertex, Russia) consisting of antibacterial, antifungal and glucocorticoid agents on local immunity in females with bacterial vaginosis and nonspecific vaginitis. For this, there were examined and treated 24 females enrolled to the study, who underwent gynecological examination (speculum and bimanual vaginal examination), cervical epithelium microscopy, and calculating karyopicnotic index. Special attention was paid to quantifying level of cytokines IL-6, IL-10, TNFα in vaginal smears before and after therapy with the drug Elgyna. It was found that by the end of the therapy course vaginally administered Elgyna resulted in significantly ameliorated clinical symptoms and normalized microscopic parameters of vaginal discharge. Moreover, this drug consisting of antibacterial, antifungal and glucocorticoid agents did not suppress vaginal epithelium proliferation, but lowered production of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα in vaginal smears and shifted toward anti-inflammatory cytokine production. This evidence pathogenetically justifies administration of the drug Elgyna in females with bacterial vaginosis and nonspecific vaginitis as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Efficacy and safety of the two-step therapeutic approach consisting of antibacterial therapy followed by vaginal microbiota recovery for treating inflammatory diseases of vaginal mucosa were confirmed in multiple randomized clinical trials. We envision that such therapeutic concept might be added with a third component implying correction of local vaginal immunity aimed at normalizing the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.