J Clin Med Res

Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 13, Number 2, February 2021, pages 101-106

Evaluation of Gut Microbiota in Patients With Vulvovestibular Syndrome

Figures

Figure 1. Evaluation of gut flora in healthy controls and VVS patients. The results are expressed in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) of stool. Data are expressed as median and IQR, and were analyzed by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Asterisks indicate a significant difference between the two groups (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.0001). VVS: vulvovestibular syndrome; IQR: interquartile range.

Figure 2. Evaluation of zonulin and calprotectin in healthy controls and VVS patients. Concentration of zonulin (a) and calprotectin (b) in fecal samples of healthy controls and VVS patients. Data are expressed as median and IQR, and were analyzed by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Asterisk indicates a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). VVS: vulvovestibular syndrome; IQR: interquartile range.

Tables

**Table 1.** Characteristics of VVS Patients
	Controls	VVS patients
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Pain severity was scored from 0 to 10. VVS: vulvovestibular syndrome; BMI: body mass index; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome; PBS: bladder pain syndrome.
No. of subjects	13	74
Age (years)	38.3 ± 10.4	34.3 ± 10.9
Pain severity	0	6.5 ± 2.7
Burning	0	6.4 ± 2.7
Dryness	0	5.6 ± 3.3
Hypertonicity	0	2.0 ± 2.5
Lesions	0	2.7 ± 2.5
BMI (kg/m²)	23.0 ± 2.1	23.2 ± 2.0
Smokers	3	16
Drinker	4	22
No. of pregnancy	0.9 ± 1.0	1.1 ± 1.1
IBS (No.)	0	74
Anxiety (No.)	1	30
PBS (No.)	0	19

**Table 2.** Evaluation of Gut Flora in Healthy Patients (Controls) and VVS Patients
Genus/species (× 10⁵ CFU/mL)	Controls	VVS patients	P value
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. VVS: vulvovestibular syndrome; CFU: colony-forming units.
Lactobacillus spp.	85.8 ± 76.8	59.5 ± 56.8	0.288
Bifidocaterium spp.	144.6 ± 50.3	193 ± 62	< 0.05
Escherichia coli	65.2 ± 40.7	169.2 ± 74.7	< 0.0001
Bacteroides spp.	54.6 ± 31.5	81 ± 63	0.237
Mould/yeast	64.2 ± 38.4	172.4 ± 61.7	< 0.0001
Candida spp.	0 ± 0	4.5 ± 13.1	0.052