The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

DBD Plasma in Chronic Vaginitis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2 Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Gynecologist, National Association Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2026.89194.6476
Abstract
Introduction: Given the high prevalence of chronic vaginitis, the importance of appropriate and effective treatment, along with the necessity to understand the efficacy and potential side effects of novel therapies in these patients, this study was conducted with aim to determine the effect of topical DBD plasma administration in chronic vaginitis.
Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 50 women with chronic vaginitis referred to gynecology clinics at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran in 2024 were selected based on inclusion criteria through convenience sampling. Using randomized blocks, they were assigned to two groups: intervention (n=25, standard treatment + 4 weeks of DBD plasma therapy) and control (n=25, standard treatment alone). The primary outcome (clinical symptom severity) and secondary outcomes (satisfaction rate and complications) were compared between the two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 23) and Paired t-tests, repeated-measures ANOVA, and chi-square tests. P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The most common reason for referral in both the intervention (60%) and control (68%) groups was recurrent vaginal infection, with no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.769). Post-intervention, vaginal infection severity was predominantly mild in the intervention group (68%) versus moderate in the control group (80%), with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Most patients receiving DBD plasma therapy (56%) reported complete satisfaction with the treatment. Only 2 subjects (8%) experienced plasma-related side effects, including mild burning and itching).
Conclusion: DBD plasma along with standard treatment reduces clinical symptom severity in chronic vaginitis and is associated with high satisfaction rates and minimal complications.
Keywords
Subjects

1.        Van De Wijgert JH, Borgdorff H, Verhelst R, Crucitti T, Francis S, Verstraelen H, et al. The vaginal microbiota: what have we learned after a decade of molecular characterization?. PloS one 2014; 9(8):e105998.
2.        Seyedi N, Karamelahi Z, Shafieian M, Sohrabi Z, Chehreh R. Prevalence of vaginitis recurrence and its associated factors in women referring to gynecological clinics affiliated to Ilam University of Medical Sciences in 2023. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2024; 27(9):51-63.
3.        Barmar P, Zarrinfar H, Jarahi L, Fata A. Comparison of Candida species in patients with Candida vulvovaginitis in Torbat-e Jam and its relationship with diabetes. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2021; 23(11):60-7.
4.        Soltani S, Irvani M, Mousavi P, Ghanbari S, Najafian M. The effect of vaginal alum (white alum) solution and clotrimazole cream on the treatment of candidasis vulvovaginitis in women of childbearing age: A randomized clinical trial. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2022; 24(12):43-55.
5.        Hosseini SS, Ghaemi E, Niknejad F, Joshaghani H, Rabiee M, Azadi F, et al. Investigation of the relationship between different Candida species and some risk factors affecting the incidence of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2019; 22(7):13-22.
6.        Stout MJ, Zhou Y, Wylie KM, Tarr PI, Macones GA, Tuuli MG. Early pregnancy vaginal microbiome trends and preterm birth. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2017; 217(3):356-e1.
7.        Otsuki K, Tokunaka M, Oba T, Nakamura M, Shirato N, Okai T. Administration of oral and vaginal prebiotic lactoferrin for a woman with a refractory vaginitis recurring preterm delivery: appearance of lactobacillus in vaginal flora followed by term delivery. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research 2014; 40(2):583-5.
8.        Mitchell C, Marrazzo J. Bacterial vaginosis and the cervicovaginal immune response. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 2014; 71(6):555-63.
9.        Sobel JD. Vaginitis. N Engl J Med 1997; 337(26):1896-1903.
10.     Falahati M, Akhlaghi L, Abianeh M, Assadi M, Nami S, Fateh R. Prevalence of Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis Infections in women. Life Sci J 2013; 10(5):479-83.
11.     De Siena M, Laterza L, Matteo MV, Mignini I, Schepis T, Rizzatti G, et al. Gut and reproductive tract microbiota adaptation during pregnancy: new insights for pregnancy-related complications and therapy. Microorganisms 2021; 9(3):473.
12.     Msuya SE, Mbizvo E, Stray-Pedersen B, Sundby J, Sam NE, Hussain A. Reproductive tract infections and the risk of HIV among women in Moshi, Tanzania. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica 2002; 81(9):886-93.
13.     Corke TC, Post ML, Orlov DM. Single dielectric barrier discharge plasma enhanced aerodynamics: physics, modeling and applications. Experiments in Fluids 2009; 46(1):1-26.
14.     Gad-el-Hak M. Flow Control: Passive, Active, and Reactive Flow Management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2007. 
15.     Jung MH, Ji YI. EP321 Potential therapeutic candidate of cold atmospheric plasma for cervical cancer. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 2019; 29(Suppl 4):A230-.
16.     Miranda FS, Tavares VK, Gomes MP, Neto NA, Chiappim W, Petraconi G, et al. Physicochemical characteristics and antimicrobial efficacy of plasma-activated water produced by an air-operated coaxial dielectric barrier discharge plasma. Water 2023; 15(23):4045.
17.     Choi MS, Jeon EB, Kim JY, Choi EH, Lim JS, Choi J, et al. Application of dielectric barrier discharge plasma for the reduction of non-pathogenic Escherichia coli and E. coli O157: H7 and the quality stability of fresh oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Lwt 2022; 154:112698.
18.     Kim HJ, Shin HA, Chung WK, Om AS, Jeon A, Kang EK, et al. Analysis of Antibacterial Efficacy and Unique Chemical Compositions Generated from Plasma Activated Water; 2023.
19.     van de Berg NJ, Nieuwenhuyzen-de Boer GM, Gao XS, Rijstenberg LL, Van Beekhuizen HJ. Plasma device functions and tissue effects in the female pelvis—A systematic review. Cancers 2023; 15(8):2386.
20.     Poramapijitwat P, Thana P, Boonyawan D, Janpong K, Kuensaen C, Charerntantanakul W, et al. Effect of dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet on bactericidal and human dermal fibroblasts adult cells: In vitro contaminated wound healing model. Surface and Coatings Technology 2020; 402:126482.