The effectiveness of complex therapy with activated glycyrrhizic acid in patients with bacterial vaginosis associated with papillomavirus infection
Rakhmatulina M.R.
The detection rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) in women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) is significantly higher than in the general population. The disease may be a trigger factor that increases the risk of HPV reactivation.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of complex therapy with activated glycyrrhizic acid (Epigen Intim, 0.1% spray) in patients with BV associated with papillomavirus infection (PVI).
Materials and methods: The study included 60 patients with BV: group 1 (n=20) consisted of patients with latent/subclinical forms of PVI, group 2 (n=40) included women with anogenital warts. Microscopic, molecular biological, and cytological techniques were the research methods used in the study. The patients were treated with clindamycin and intravaginal spray Epigen Intim, the latter was prescribed during 180 days follow-up period if triggering factors were present.
Results: Two weeks after therapy, all patients showed a decrease in the detection rate of abnormal vaginal discharge (by 94.7% in group 1 and 94.9% in group 2), pH of vaginal discharge >4.5 and positive amino test (by 94.1% and 97.4%), the presence of the key cells (by 94.1% and 97.1%) (p<0.001). During the 6-month follow-up period, BV recurrence was noted in 1/20 (5.0%) patients of group 1 and 4/40 (10.0%) patients of group 2 (p<0.001); recurrence of anogenital warts was observed in 4/40 (10.0%) patients (p=0.002). HPV elimination after six months was detected in 16/20 (80.0%) patients of group 1 and 30/40 (75.0%) of group 2 (p<0.001). Normal cytological findings were revealed after six months in 19/20 (95%) (p=0.031) and 38/40 (95%) (p=0.029) patients, respectively.
Conclusion: Epigen Intim, 0.1% spray has demonstrated a high level of efficacy in the complex therapy of BV associated with genital PVI. It can be recommended as an additional component of treatment and for the prevention of disease recurrence in case of the presence of triggering factors.
Conflicts of interest: The author declares lack of the possible conflicts of interest.
Funding: The manuscript was prepared and published with the support of the author’s employer.
Ethical Approval: The study was approved by the Ethical Review Board of the State Scientific Center for Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Ministry of Health of Russia.
Patient Consent for Publication: The patients signed informed consent for the publication of their data.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Rakhmatulina M.R. The effectiveness of complex therapy with activated glycyrrhizic acid in patients with bacterial vaginosis associated with papillomavirus infection.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (10): 149-156 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.294
Keywords
bacterial vaginosis
papillomavirus infection
HPV
activated glycyrrhizic acid
Epigen Intim
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Received 21.10.2025
Accepted 28.10.2025
About the Authors
Margarita R. Rakhmatulina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Deputy Director for Organizational and Analytical Work, State Research Center of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 107076, Russia, Moscow, Korolenko str., 3 build. 6, +7(499)785-20-48, rahmatulina@cnikvi.ru,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3039-7769
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