Gynecologic Manifestations of Leukemia in Reproductive-Age Women: Ultrasound, Cytology, and Microbiota Findings
Women with leukemia show high prevalence of severe vaginal dysbiosis, menstrual disorders, and cervical cytological abnormalities.
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What the study showed
In 100 patients with acute or chronic leukemia, 77.7% had grade III-IV vaginal dysbiosis with dominant growth of Candida spp., S. aureus, and E. coli. Menstrual disorders affected 83% of participants (62% hyperpolymenorrhea, 21% secondary amenorrhea). Leukemic blast cells were detected in cervical smears in 28% of cases.
How it was done
Cross-sectional observational study enrolling 100 women aged 16–46 years with confirmed leukemia diagnosis. Assessments included gynecological examination, Pap smear, vaginal microbiological analysis, and pelvic ultrasound.
Risk of bias
Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference; the absence of a leukemia-free control group limits interpretation of effect magnitude. Sample size is modest and statistical analysis was restricted to descriptive methods and Student's t-test.
What this study does NOT prove
The study does not prove a causal relationship between leukemia and vaginal dysbiosis, nor that microbiota interventions alter oncological outcomes.
In clinical practice
Findings suggest that systematic gynecological evaluation, including vaginal microbiota and cervical cytology, may be relevant in the follow-up of women with leukemia. Clinical recommendations require confirmation from adequately controlled studies.
Limitations
Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference; the absence of a leukemia-free control group limits interpretation of effect magnitude. Sample size is modest and statistical analysis was restricted to descriptive methods and Student's t-test.
Technical appendix
Version history
- 1.0 · 2026-08-04 — Auto-generated under Evidence Standard v1.0
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