In vitro autologous vaginal tissue culture development: treatment improvements in Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (SMRKH) syndrome patients

• Grant number: 12/51421-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Manoel João Batista Castello Girão
• Grantee: Manoel João Batista Castello Girão
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The uterine and vaginal agenesis, also know as Syndrome Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (SMRKH) is a congenital malformation that, although rare, carries important clinical and psychological repercussions, due to the impaiment of sexual activity and reproductive life. The treatment for this disease is divided in to bloodless and surgical methods and consists in the construction of a neovagina, allowing the patient to have a normal sexual life. However, there is no consensus on best approach of treatment because of the advantages and disadvantages presented in both cases. Recently experimental studies described a successful technique of rabbit vaginal tissue engineering using samples of vagina and muscle autologous cells. In 2007 it was reported the first neovaginoplasty case with the Maclndoe modified technique were it was used the patient’s own cells to produce na antologous vaginal tissue in the laboratory. The neovaginoplasty with the use of vaginal culture of autologous cells may allow patients to have a shorter use of vaginal mold, with less bleeding and discharge after surgery and less time needed to initiate sexual activity. (AU)