The role of mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms in women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine mannose-binding lectin gene (MBL2) polymorphisms in women with recurrent episodes of bacterial vaginosis (BV). STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-one women with at least 4 episodes of BV in the last 12 months and 130 healthy controls were enrolled to evaluate all 3 variant alleles of the MBL2 gene (polymorphisms at positions 52, 54, and 57 in the first exon of the MBL2 gene). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in MBL2 polymorphism allelic and genotype frequencies were observed between women with recurrent BV and controls. Allele A (wild type) was present, respectively, in 78% of patients with recurrent BV and 77% of controls, whereas the allele 0 was present in 22% of women with recurrent BV and 23% of controls. MBL2 genotype and allelic frequencies were similar in the 2 groups, and the 2 populations were in accordance with the Hardy–Weiberg equilibrium. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that MBL2 gene polymorphisms do not seem to be involved in susceptibility to recurrences of BV in gynecological patients.