Hypersensitivity to aeroallergens in patients with recurrent vulvovaginitis of undetermined etiology Sami Ozturk 1 , Zafer Caliskaner 1 , Mehmet Karaayvaz 1 , Murat Dede 2 and Mustafa Gulec 1 Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Departments of 1 Allergy and 2 Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey Abstract Aim: Recent findings show that the vaginal mucosa can develop an allergic response to environmental allergens and there is a strong association between atopy and some recurrent vulvovaginal infections. In this study, we investigated prospectively the rate of atopy in patients with recurrent vulvovaginitis of undeter- mined etiology (RVV). Material and Methods: After being investigated by a gynecologist, 35 patients with RVV who were considered as undetermined etiology formed the study group. The control group consisted of 150 healthy females. Study and control groups were investigated for atopy by means of skin prick test for common aeroallergens. Associated allergic disease and familial atopy history of the subjects were recorded. Results: The rate of atopy (11/35; 31.4% vs 9/150; 6%) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the study group than in the controls. Familial history of atopy was significantly more frequent in the study group than in the controls (10/35; 28.6% vs 8/150; 5.3%, P < 0.05). RVV in atopics is more associated with seasonal rhinitis than in nonatopics (5/11; 45.4% vs 2/24; 8.3%, P < 0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that a significant number of RVV is associated with atopy. Although the exact mechanism(s) of this relationship remains to be investigated atopy might be a causative and/or contributing factor in the pathogenesis ofRVV. Key words: allergic vaginitis, atopy, recurrent vulvovaginitis, skin prick test. Introduction Nasal mucosa, airways and conjunctiva are the tissues most frequently affected by IgE-mediated allergic reac- tions, and they are well-known and studied as allergic shock organs. However, recent data have shown that the vaginal mucosa is also able to develop allergic response to environmental allergens. 1 As in the nasal mucosa and bronchial epithelium, aeroallergens may cause early and late-phase allergic reactions in the female genitalia, which is clinically presented as chronic and/or RVV. 1,2 The relationship between vaginal mucosa and aeroallergens has been described in several reviews and case reports and allergen sensitivity in recurrent vaginal candidiasis has also been shown. 1,3–6 However, candida infection is responsible for approximately 30% of RVV cases. 7 In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the rate of aeroallergen sensitivity in patients with RVV of undetermined etiology. Materials and Methods Study group This study was conducted at the Department of Allergic Diseases and Department of Gynecology of Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GMMA). GMMA is a teaching hospital that serves as a referral center for Received: May 16 2006. Accepted: November 20 2006. Reprint request to: Dr Sami Ozturk, GATAAllerjik Hastalıklar BD, Etlik-Ankara, TR-06018, Turkey. Email: samiozturkiz@yahoo.com doi:10.1111/j.1447-0756.2007.00578.x J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Res. Vol. 33, No. 4: 496–500, August 2007 496 © 2007 The Authors Journal compilation © 2007 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology