Comparison of Boric Acid vs. Terconazole in Treatment of RVVC
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2021-05-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida species, predominantly C. Albicans is
considered one of the most common infections of the lower female genital tract affecting 75%
of women at least once in their lifetime. Recurrent VVC (RVVC) is arbitrarily defined as four
or more episodes every year. RVVC is a debilitating, long-term condition that can severely
affect the quality of life of women. Several factors have been associated with RVVC such as
prolonged use of antibiotics, inadequately treated infection, uncontrolled diabetes, immune
mechanisms (e.g. HIV), oral contraceptive use as well as the resistance of non-albicans
Candida species (e.g. C glabrata, C krusei) to conventional antifungal agents as azoles.
Fluconazole administered orally is the most commonly used antifungal drug in the case of
RVVC. However, in the last decade, fluconazole-resistant C Albicans has been reported in
women with RVVC. Terconazole is a broad-spectrum, triazole antifungal treatment agent for
both C Albicans and non-albicans. Its use (80 mg vaginal suppository daily for 6 days) was as
effective as two doses of oral fluconazole (150 mg) in the treatment of patients with severe
VVC and RVVC.
Boric acid or boracic [B(OH)3] is a weak acid with proven antifungal action. In RVVC
especially in azole-resistant strains and in non-Candida Albicans, 600 mg of the boric acid
vaginal suppository is recommended once daily for 2 weeks. This regimen has a mycologic cure
rate varied from 40% to 100%. However, there are no published studies comparing the
intravaginal use of boric acid with terconazole for RVVC. Accordingly, a prospective
randomized study in patients with RVVC will be conducted to address this important issue.