Importance of Cervicovaginal Cytodiagnosis andBethesda Terminology for Perinatology

Overview

Objective:
Advantage of the use the cervicovaginal cytodiagnostic according to the Bethesdaterminology in the gravidity and in the care after delivery was studied.Design: Cervicovaginal smears of pregnant women were investigated in all parameters requestedby the Bethesda system. Microbial parameters were compared with the data of non-pregnantwomen as given by Bibbo.Setting: Cytological Laboratory of the Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the Charles Univer-sity 1st Faculty of Medicine and of the General Faculty Hospital, Apolinářská 18, Praha 2 andCharles University 1st Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Histochemistry, Albertov 4, Praha 2.Material and Methods: Cervicovaginal smears were prepared by the cytobrush technique in 100pregnant women, fixed immediately in isopropanol and stained by polychrome Papanicolaoumethod. Slides were evaluated according to the requirements of the Bethesda system.Results: In smears of pregnant women no malignity was found. 27% women suffered from mycoticinfections (Candidosis) (Bibbo gives for the non-gravid population 3,6%), Gardnerella was foundin 8% cases (Bibbo gives for non-pregnant women 21%), trichomoniasis in 5% (in Bibbo’s group in15%). In 2% changes indicating the presence of Papilloma virus, Chlamydia occurred in 2% of.Conclusion: Pathogens found in smears (e.g. Chlamydia and Gardnerella) cause inflammationboth in the mother and child and lead to premature delivery. A detailed cytological examinationas required by the Bethesda system is thus also a help for perinatology because it allows a preven-tive treatment.

Key words:
Bethesda system, perinatology