The expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase indicates no active inflammation in vulvar...

Although women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome have principal symptoms of inflammation such as local erythema and pain in the mucosa around the vaginal introitus, it is not clear if vestibulitis is an inflammatory condition. Cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase are known to be upregulated during inflammation. The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression of these enzymes in the vestibular mucosa in order to evaluate the inflammatory activity in the tissue.

Ten women fulfilling Friedrich's criteria of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and ten control subjects were included in the study. Punch biopsies were obtained from the vestibular mucosa for analysis of cyclooxygenas 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, using indirect immunohistochemistry and Western dot-blot analyses.

Both methods used showed low expression of cyclooxygenas 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the vestibular mucosa of all women. There was no difference observed between the groups.

There is a low expression of the inflammatory markers cyclooxygenas 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the vestibular mucosa of women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome as well as in healthy control subjects. The results indicate no active inflammation present and imply that topical corticosteroids in the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis are unfounded.