Association of indicators of bacterial vaginosis with a female genital tract factor that induces expression of HIV-1

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of bacte rial vaginosis and bacterial vaginosis-associated microorganisms with an HI V-inducing factor (HIF) found in cervicovaginal lavage. Design: A total of 26 cervicovaginal lavage specimens collected from 17 wom en were used in this study to determine if HIF was significantly associated with features consistent with bacterial vaginosis. Methods: Patients were evaluated for various clinical features including ag e, HIV status and stage, CD4 cell counts, clinical diagnosis of gynecologic al infections, vaginal pH, Gram stains of vaginal fluid, phase of menstruat ion, and presence of cervical dysplasia. Cervicovaginal lavage specimens we re analyzed for the presence of HIF by U1 bioassay. The presence of Gardner ella vaginalis, and general Mycoplasmataceae, and specifically Mycoplasma h ominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, M. fermentans, M. genitalium in cervicovagi nal ravage were determined by semiquantitative PCR. Results: Eleven cervicovaginal lavage samples from seven women were HIF-pos itive and 15 cervicovaginal lavage samples from 11 women were HIF-negative (patient No. 8 had two HIF-negative cervicovaginal lavage and one HIF-posit ive cervicovaginal lavage). The following parameters were significantly ass ociated with HIF: abnormal vaginal fluid pH (> 4.5) (P = 0.006), Cram stain s indicative of bacterial vaginosis (P = 0.007), normal menstrual cycle (P = 0.0007) and PCR detection and relative quantity of M. hominis (P = 0.0003 , P = 0.002). Conclusions: This study indicates that HIF is closely associated with featu res of bacterial vaginosis. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.