Cytolytic vaginosis: misdiagnosed as candidal vaginitis.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, 210 women with vaginal discharge and other symptoms/signs of genital pathology suggestive of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) were involved in order to distinguish true WC and cytolytic vaginosis (CV) cases.

METHODS

Fungal cultures, 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and Gram stained preparations and pH measurements were performed on the vaginal discharge material of each patient.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (7.1%) were diagnosed with cytolytic vaginosis according to their clinical and microbiological findings, including abundant lactobacilli, fragmented epithelial cells and/or free nuclei due to cytolysis, seen in their discharge materials on microscopic examination, but no fungal growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study may contribute to the reports in the literature indicating the importance of such disorders, which are generally misdiagnosed as candidiasis.