Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis: An Exploratory Case-Control Study

PURPOSE: To investigate potential risk factors for desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV), a rare but severe form of vaginitis. We are aware of no other controlled studies of DIV. METHODS: We conducted a case control study comparing DIV cases (n = 47), identified from the Wayne State University Vaginitis Clinic, to friend controls. For some variables, cases were also compared to 1432 women participating in a random digit dialing survey. RESULTS: Most cases reported that their last episode of DIV caused at least some pain (76.9%) and worry (73.1%). Cases were more likely than either friend or population controls to report (ORs from population controls) a history of vulvovaginal candidiasis (OR = 4.40, 95% CI 2.24, 8.65), bacterial vaginosis (OR = 25.58, 95% CI 15.91, 41.15), or pelvic inflammatory disease (OR = 16.90, 95% CI 8.26, 34.55); use of oral contraceptives (OR = 4.91, 95% CI 2.11, 11.43); use of hormone replacement therapy (OR = 4.74, 95% CI 2.69, 8.37); and laparoscopic procedures (OR = 22.24, 95% CI 11.46, 42.69). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies should be conducted to explain the association with fertility surgeries, hormone usage, and other urogenital conditions; to clarify the timing of these associations; and to identify other factors related to DIV.