Open AccessThe efficacy of the boric acid-based maintenance therapy in preventing recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis
Author(s) -
Üzeyir Kalkan,
Murat Yassa,
Kemal Sandal,
Arzu Bilge Tekin,
Ceyhun Çağlar Kılınç,
Çağrı Gülümser,
Niyazi Tuğ
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
deneysel ve klinik tıp dergisi/journal of experimental and clinical medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.103
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1309-4483
pISSN - 1309-5129
DOI - 10.52142/omujecm.38.4.11
Subject(s) - medicine , fluconazole , vulvovaginal candidiasis , boric acid , maintenance therapy , surgery , chemotherapy , antifungal , dermatology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Current gold-standard treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is mainly based on maintenance with fluconazole. Moderate to high recurrence rates at long-term use and secondary fluconazole resistance emerge as reasons to seek for new topical maintenance regimens. In this study, it is aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of boric acid-based treatment approach to treat clinical RVVC. In this retrospective study, patients who were diagnosed with RVVC received a treatment package for six months that consist of induction with boric acid vaginal suppositories 600 mg daily for 14 nights followed by maintenance for five nights starting with every fifth day of the menstrual cycles; a vaginal estriol-lactobacilli combination; and several rigorous life-style changes. The success was defined as the absence of symptomatic recurrence during the follow-up. Success rate at the first year was found to be 94.8% in a total of 173 patients. Mild, reversible side effects were observed in five patients (2.9%). Boric acid, along with a vaginal estriol-lactobacilli combination and lifestyle changes can be a safe and effective alternative in lieu of potent systemic antifungal drugs as a first-line treatment for the patients referred with RVVC.