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[Vulvodynia and facticious urticaria]
J Lübbe1, A Valiton, P Pedrazetti
1Policliniques de Dermatologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Genève, Suisse.
Background:
The term vulvodynia describes a multifactorial syndrome of chronic vulvar discomfort with burning, itching, pain, and dyspareunia. Due to the paucity of clinical signs, this syndrome is often perceived as a predominantly psychiatric problem. A context of symptomatic dermographism has been reported in rare instances.
Patients And Methods:
In our interdisciplinary consultation of vulvar dermatology, we routinely look for the presence of facticious urticaria. In the last 17 months, we observed 14 patients with an association of facticious urticaria and vulvodynia.
Results:
The principal symptoms were itching and burning. Sexual intercourse, tight clothes, and stress were most often cited as aggravating factors. The efficacy of a systemic antihistaminic treatment observed in our patients suggests that certain cases of vulvodynia might be an expression of symptomatic dermographism.
Discussion:
Therefore, a check-up for chronic vulvar discomfort should comprise a test for the presence of facticious whealing. The prevalence of a causal relationship between chronic vulvar discomfort and facticious whealing remains to be established.