Immune Dysregulation, Inflammation in Characterizing Women with Vulvodynia, Depression, and Both.
Amy ZhengBernard L HarlowJessica GereigePublished in: Journal of women's health (2002) (2024)
Background: Depression and vulvodynia are often comorbid. The onset of depression and vulvodynia may be immune and/or stress/environmentally induced. We explored whether vulvodynia, depression, or both occur in response to a Th1-mediated versus Th2-mediated immune response. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from a case-control study of clinically confirmed vulvodynia and history of depression determined through structured clinical interviews. Immune dysregulation and inflammation were categorized based on the following self-reported conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes mellitus, uterine fibroids, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for marital status, body mass index, age, and pack years. Results: Women with systemic immune dysregulation had higher odds of depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.61, confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.65-3.98), vulvodynia (aOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.00-5.96), and comorbid depression and vulvodynia (aOR = 4.93, 95% CI: 2.19-11.10) versus neither condition. Women reporting local immune dysregulation had similar odds of depression (aOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 0.99-3.59), vulvodynia (aOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.08-4.18), and comorbid depression and vulvodynia (aOR = 1.96, 95% CI: 0.98-3.90). Women with Th2 inflammation had similar odds of depression (aOR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.05-4.77) and vulvodynia (aOR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.20-5.49). Women with Th1 or Th2 inflammation had similar odds of comorbid depression and vulvodynia (aOR = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.48-6.19; aOR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.49-6.60, respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest that an imbalance of cytokines, indicated by the presence of one or more immune-related health conditions, is associated with an increased risk of vulvodynia and/or depression.
Keyphrases
- depressive symptoms
- sleep quality
- rheumatoid arthritis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- immune response
- body mass index
- oxidative stress
- healthcare
- type diabetes
- physical activity
- public health
- emergency department
- machine learning
- mental health
- disease activity
- weight loss
- cystic fibrosis
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- knee osteoarthritis