Vaginal cytokines do not correlate with postmenopausal vulvovaginal symptoms

Abstract

Objectives: Exploratory pilot study to determine the correlation between postmenopausal vulvovaginal symptoms and vaginal cytokine levels.

Methods: Postmenopausal women (n = 34) not using menopausal hormone therapy and presenting with or without symptoms of vulvovaginal irritation were screened. Each participant underwent a vaginal examination and screening for vaginitis. A cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) with sterile saline and a peripheral blood sample were obtained. Main outcome measures were assessed by Luminex® X-map method on the Bio-Plex® platform. Main outcome measures were cervicovaginal and serum interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, TNF-α, GM-CSF, MIP-1-alpha and RANTES level. Cervicovaginale cytokines were adjusted to total protein concentration [pg/mcg protein].

Results: Twenty-six postmenopausal women were enrolled (symptomatic: n = 15; asymptomatic: n = 11). There were no significant differences between groups: age, age at menopause, vaginal pH and all CVL and serum cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, TNF-α, GM-CSF, MIP-1-alpha and RANTES). GM-CSF was the most abundant vaginal cytokine (symptomatic: 146.5 ± 165.6 pg/mcg protein; asymptomatic: 146.0 ± 173.5 pg/mcg protein; p = 0.99).

Conclusions: Postmenopausal vulvovaginal symptoms did not correlate with vaginal inflammatory marker. There was no difference in serum or CVL cytokines between symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopasual women. Vaginal symptoms after menopause are not related to the vaginal cytokine changes associated with loss of estrogen.

• Interleukin
• menopause
• serum cytokine
• vaginal cytokine
• vulvovaginal atrophy

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for administrative support of Juliette Denise Wanner, study nurse, and for technical support of Anne Vaucher, laboratory technician at the Inselspital Berne, Switzerland. Drs Stute and Archer would like to acknowledge being a Mentee-Mentor pair for NAMS and thank NAMS for offering the mentor-mentee program since 2009.

Declaration of interest

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.