Is bacterial vaginosis associated with autoimmune antibody positivity?

DÖNMEZ H. G., ÇAĞAN M., FADILOĞLU E., ÜNAL C., ÖNDER S. Ç., BEKSAÇ M. S.

CYTOPATHOLOGY, vol.31, no.4, pp.298-302, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 31 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/cyt.12846
  • Journal Name: CYTOPATHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.298-302
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the association between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and autoimmune antibody positivity. Method We evaluated Papanicolaou-stained cervicovaginal smears of 210 patients with poor obstetric history who were admitted to a special preconception counselling programme. Cytological specimens with various types of microorganisms except for BV, epithelial cell abnormalities and other non-neoplastic findings, including inflammation were excluded from the cohort in addition to patients with autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. The remaining study population (n = 121) was divided into two groups of patients with autoimmune antibody positivity (study group, n = 80) and patients without antibody positivity (control group, n = 41). Results The rate of BV was demonstrated to be 13.8% and 2.4% in the study and control groups respectively (P = .042). We also demonstrated that the anti-nuclear antibody was positive in 58.3% of the cases with BV. Conclusion BV was found more frequently in patients with autoimmune antibody positivity to a statistically significant degree.