Is localized, provoked vulvodynia an inflammatory condition?
OBJECTIVE
To perform a pilot study to investigate the relationship between localized, provoked vulvodynia of the vestibule and inflammatory cytokine expression.


METHODS
Women with a diagnosis of localized, provoked vulvodynia had tissue samples taken for vulvar expression of Interleukin 1alpha and 1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha and compared to those of a control group.


RESULTS
The study group did not show a significant increase in expression of inflammatory markers.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no evidence in this study that localized, provoked vulvodynia is an inflammatory condition, as previously thought. This may be helpful in explaining why some women are resistant to medical or antiinflammatory treatment and may allow treatment to be prescribed more effectively.
Eva
Lois J
LJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, London, UK.
Rolfe
Kerstin J
KJ
MacLean
Allan B
AB
Reid
Wendy M N
WM
Fong
Anne Christine Wong Te
AC
Crow
Julie
J
Perrett
Christopher W
CW
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha