Vaginal matrix metalloproteinase levels in pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: To compare matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 and MMP-9 levels in the vaginal secretions of pregnant women with or without asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Methods: In this study, vaginal levels and molecular forms of MMP-8 and MMP-9 were studied in 36 pregnant women between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation with asymptomatic BV and 41 pregnant women, matched for gestational age, without BV.

Results: Vaginal MMP-8 concentrations were significantly higher (P = .

Genetic variation in the interleukin-8 gene promoter and vaginal concentrations of interleukin-8 are not associated with bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) may play a role in the activation of the vaginal immune system during bacterial vaginosis. However, contradictory results were obtained regarding the involvement of IL-8 in the immunological response during bacteria vaginosis. These apparently contradictory results could be due to different genetic variations of the study groups.