Abstract

MARGUET, Emilio Rogelio; ALOISI, Pía Valeria  and  VALLEJO, Marisol. Evaluation of L- proline iminopeptidase assay for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2004, vol.38, n.3, pp.297-300. ISSN 0325-2957.

The detection of specific enzymes has potential use in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). L-proline iminopeptidase activity was assayed in vaginal fluid samples from 253 patients, and these results were compared to those obtained by a microscopic examination method based on 6 grades of classification. In the 6 grades a direct correlation between the numbre of the the cases with enzyme activity and the shift in the vaginal flora from Lactobacillus morphotypes to a mixed flora composed mainly of gram negative rods, gram-variable rods and curved gram negative rods, was found. The specificity and sensitivy of the assay for the prediction of BV were 97.7% and 94.8%, respectively, values that were comparable with those found in previus evaluations. The results of the evaluation suggest that L-proline imipeptidase assay is a simple and rapid method that can be used as a complementary toll for the diagnosis of BV.

Keywords : L-proline iminopeptidase; Bacterial vaginosis.

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