Vaginal Inflammatory Status in Pregnant Women with Normal and Pathogenic Microbiota in Lower Genital Tract

Objective. To assess the vaginal inflammatory status (VIS) in pregnant women, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, by leukocyte quantification in relation to the microbiota during each pregnancy trimester (T). Materials and Methods. A thousand two hundred and forty eight vaginal exudates from pregnant women were prospectively examined. All the patients underwent a clinical and colposcopic examination and a microbiological study of vaginal exudates. Leukocyte quantification was determined by May-Grunwald Giemsa staining as LNR per field (400X). Results. Statistically significant differences (SSD) in LNR were observed in the VIS of asymptomatic patients (AP) compared with that of symptomatic ones (SP) with normal microbiota: 10-15 for the 1st T, <10, 20 to 25 and >25 for the 2nd T and >25 for the 3rd; with candidiasis: <10 for the 1st T, <10, 15 to 20 and >25 for the 2nd T and <10 and >25 for the 3rd T. In women with trichomoniasis, SSD in the LNR were observed between SP with LNR ≥ 10 and AP with NLR < 10 in the three trimesters altogether. In women with BV, no SSD were observed in the LNR of any AP with respect to SP for the three T. Conclusion. The VIS is influenced by vaginal microbiota and depends on the state of pregnancy and also, on gestational age. The pronounced leukocyte increase in asymptomatic patients in the absence of lower genital tract infection during the third trimester of pregnancy should be highlighted.