Subcutaneous injection of triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of chronic vulvar pruritus.

Abstract

We studied the efficacy of subcutaneous corticosteroid injection as therapy for chronic vulvar pruritus. Adult women with symptoms of vulvar pruritus > 6 months were studied. After appropriate biopsies and cultures were performed, patients were included in the study group if they experienced limited relief with topical triamcinolone cream. Triamcinolone acetonide (15 to 20 mg) was injected subcutaneously and massaged into the affected vulvar tissue. Seventy-eight percent of patients (35/45) experienced relief of vulvar pruritus for > 1 month (mean duration 5.8 months). We found that subcutaneous injection triamcinolone acetonide provided relief of symptoms of chronic vulvar pruritus.