Cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in HIV-infected women: prevalence, incidence and regression

Objectives: To assess the impact of HIV-related immunodeficiency and antiretroviral treatment on the occurrence and evolution of abnormal Papanicolaou tests. Study design: Cohort of 485 HIV-infected women with a known date of infection, enrolled during May 1993-April 1998 in 23 centres (gynaecology, infectious disease or STD clinics, or drug treatment centres) in 12 European countries; in 21 centres, follow-up was performed every 6 months (median follow-up: 2 years). Methods: Human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected at inclusion by Southern blot and PCR. The prevalence of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), the incidence of SIL and regression from low-grade SIL were studied according to CD4 count after controlling for HPV detection results. Results: Compared with women with CD4 cell counts > 500 × 10 6 /l, women with CD4 cell counts 500 × 10 6 /l, reference), whereas it was less marked and not statistically significant in treated women. Conclusions: Severe HIV-related immunodeficiency strongly increases the risk of occurrence of SIL; antiretroviral treatment may reduce this risk, probably by restoring or at least preserving immune function.