Human papillomavirus with co-existing vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and vestibular papillomatosis

Objective: The role of HPV infection in cases of vulvar papillomatosis and vulvar vestibulitis syndrome is still unclear and data from the literature is controversial. In this study we intended to investigate the prevalence of viral infection, with a multidisciplinary approach, in cases with a co-existence of the two patterns. Method: Sixteen consecutive cases with diagnosis of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and co-existence of vestibular papillomatosis were enrolled in the study and investigated by the means of vulvar cytology, vulvoscopy, histology, ViraPap and Polymerase Chain Reaction. Result: Cytology, vulvoscopy and histology did not demonstrate suitable accuracy for the diagnosis. Viral DNA identification revealed two (12.50%) positive cases using PCR and one (6.25%) positive case with ViraPap. Conclusion: The results of the present investigation indicate that even in cases of co-existing vulvar papillomatosis and severe vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, the prevalence of HPV infection is too low to be considered causal. (C) 1999 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.