The role of mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms in women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis

The objective of the study was to examine mannose-binding lectin gene (MBL2) polymorphisms in women with recurrent episodes of bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Seventy-one women with at least 4 episodes of BV in the last 12 months and 130 healthy controls were enrolled to evaluate all 3 variant alleles of the MBL2 gene (polymorphisms at positions 52, 54, and 57 in the first exon of the MBL2 gene).

No statistically significant differences in MBL2 polymorphism allelic and genotype frequencies were observed between women with recurrent BV and controls. Allele A (wild type) was present, respectively, in 78% of patients with recurrent BV and 77% of controls, whereas the allele 0 was present in 22% of women with recurrent BV and 23% of controls. MBL2 genotype and allelic frequencies were similar in the 2 groups, and the 2 populations were in accordance with the Hardy-Weiberg equilibrium.

Our results indicate that MBL2 gene polymorphisms do not seem to be involved in susceptibility to recurrences of BV in gynecological patients.