ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2000 April;159(2):59-63

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

The role of Lactobacillus casei subspecies Rhamnous GG (ATCC 53103) in the treatment of recurring cystitis and vaginitis and in the prevention of specific cystitis and vaginitis after therapy

Salzano P., Piscoo L., Tirabasso S., Musone R., Ambrosio D., Cardone A.

Seconda Università degli Studi - Napoli, Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica

Background. In this paper the authors observe that there is a high incidence of cystitis and vaginitis with frequent recurrences in spite of specific treatment. They evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus casei subspecies Rhamnous GG (ATCC 53103), a probiotic strain of human origin, in the treatment of recurrent and specific cystitis and vaginitis.
Methods. The study was carried out in a group of 60 women, aged between 15 and 40 years old, and divided into 3 groups A, B and C: 20 patients with cystitis and specific vaginitis, 20 patients with recurring cystitis and vaginitis, and 20 patients with cystitis and vaginitis treated with placebo as a control group.
Results. The following results were obtained in group A and B one week after the end of treatment: absence of dysuria and pollakiuria, vaginal pH < 4.5 and absence of vaginal itch. The control population treated with placebo showed symptoms of cystitis and recurrent vaginitis.
Conclusions. Women with specific and recurrent cystitis and vaginitis treated with Lactobacillus GG no longer showed symptoms and presented an increase in intestinal saprophytic flora which competed with the pathogenic bacteria that had provoked cystitis by colonising the vescica, and the normalisation of physiological vaginal pH. The control group treated with placebo continued to present symptoms.