Human papillomavirus with co-existing vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and vestibular papillomatosis

Objective: The role of HPV infection in cases of vulvar papillomatosis and vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is still unclear and data from the literature is controversial. In this study we intended to investigate the prevalence o f viral infection, with a multidisciplinary approach, in cases with a co-ex istence of the two patterns. Method: Sixteen consecutive cases with diagnos is of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and co-existence of vestibular papilloma tosis were enrolled in the study and investigated by the means of vulvar cy tology, vulvoscopy, histology, ViraPap and Polymerase Chain Reaction. Resul t: Cytology, vulvoscopy and histology did not demonstrate suitable accuracy for the diagnosis. Viral DNA identification revealed two (12.50%) positive cases using PCR and one (6.25%) positive case with ViraPap. Conclusion: Th e results of the present investigation indicate that even in cases of co-ex isting vulvar papillomatosis and severe vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, the p revalence of HPV infection is too low to be considered causal. (C) 1999 Int ernational Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.