Plasma Cell Vulvitis: A Systematic Review of Interventions

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Dermatology
• Pathology

Background:

• Plasma cell vulvitis (PCV) is a rare, chronic inflammatory condition.
• PCV symptoms can be severe, impacting quality of life.
• Current treatment lacks evidence-based guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• Systematically review PCV treatments.
• Evaluate the efficacy of individual therapies.
• Inform future research for PCV management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search (1952-August 2020).
• Databases searched: MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare.
• Included 47 publications (45 case reports/series, 2 cohort studies).

Main Results:

• No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found for PCV treatment efficacy.
• No studies assessed treatment impact on quality of life.
• Topical corticosteroids are common first-line therapy with limited supporting evidence; topical imiquimod and surgical excision also used; cryotherapy least supported.

Conclusions:

• Descriptive studies support topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and imiquimod for PCV.
• Highlights the need for standardized outcome measures.
• Emphasizes the necessity of RCTs for definitive PCV therapeutic recommendations.