A Randomized Comparison of Boric Acid Versus Terconazole in Treatment of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

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.