F. Sopracordevole et al., SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL CERVICAL LESIONS IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-SEROPOSITIVE WOMEN, Journal of reproductive medicine, 41(8), 1996, pp. 586-590
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) infection, CD4 serum level, cervical squamous intraepithe
lial lesions (SILs) and risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV)-re
lated dysplasia in HIV-positive women. STUDY DESIGN: All 51 eligible p
atients who were seen at the Colposcopic Out-patient Service, Aviano C
ancer Center, Aviano, Italy, from July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1994, were
studied for risk factors for HPV and HIV infection and had cervical c
ytologic smears, coloscopy with cervical biopsy and serum CD4 count. R
ESULTS: Thirty of 51 patients (59%) had cytohisto-logically confirmed
SIL. The prevalence of SIL was higher in HIV Centers for Disease Contr
ol stage IV disease than stages II and III (22/29 vs. 8/22 P < .05). T
here was no significant difference in the CD4 count between women with
or without SIL (321 +/- 310 vs. 401 +/- 295/mm3 [mean +/- SD]). No re
lationship wa found between CD4 count and severity of SIL (low grade S
IL, 210 +/- 203/mm(3); high grade SIL, 580 +/- 357/mm(3)). CONCLUSION:
In our series there was no relationship between CD4 count and cervica
l SIL, suggesting that the expression of HPV-related dysplasia is a co
mplex process in which risk factors for genital SIL play and important
role, while the role of HIV must be defined again.