CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA AND BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS - CORRELATION OR RISK FACTOR

Bacterial Vaginosis (B.V.) is a syndrome defined microbiologically whe re lactobacilli-dominated flora is exchanged with an abundant complex nora dominated by strict and facultative anaerobic bacteria, constitut ed by gardenerella, micrococci, streptococci and staphylocci. It has b een suggested that B.V. could be important in the development of cervi cal intraepithelial neoplasias, because the abnormal micro nora can pr oduce carcinogenic nitrosamines. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the correlation between CIN and B.V. in 1,008 patients (media n age: 28 years, range 17-60) who were divided into two groups: the fi rst group consisted of 504 patients affected by CIN of different degre es, the second of 504 patients without, CIN. AII patients were submitt ed to colposcopy, pap-tests, cytology of the cervical canal and microc olpohysteroscopy in the case of lesions invading the cervical canal. T he diagnosis of B.V. is based on four criteria: presence of clue cells , pH 4.5, positive amine test and increased vaginal discharge. X. Pear son analysis was applied for statistical evaluation of the data. Among the 504 patients in the first group (women affected by CIN of differe nt degrees), 180/504 (36%) women presented B.V. Among the second group (504 women without CIN), 248/504 (49%) women presented B.V. The resul ts of our study demonstrate that then is no significant correlation be tween CIN and B.V. In the first group of patients affected by CIN and B.V., B.V. was present in 36% of the cases, while in the second group of patients not affected by CIN, B.V. was present in 49% of the casts (p < 0.00005).