Cervicovaginal cytological abnormalities in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, in relation to disease stage, CD4 cell count and viral load.

The objective of the present study was to assess infections and cytologic abnormalities in cervicovaginal smears from 153 HIV-positive women and 169 HIV-negative followed up at the UFTM School of Medicine between May 1999 and May 2002. The medical records and cervicovaginal smears were reviewed and the HIV-positive group was classified according to CD4 cell count, HIV viral load, antiretroviral therapy and HIV subgroups (with or without disease; with or without therapy) and compared to HIV-negative group. We conclude that the frequency of Candida sp, Trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis in cervicovaginal smear, is not different between HIV-positive and HIV-negative women, even if the HIV-group is subdivided according to CD4 cell count, HIV viral load, antiretroviral therapy and HIV subgroups. The frequency of LSIL, in cervicovaginal smears, was greater in the HIV-group (17.6%) than in the HIV-negative (4.1%); there was no difference between the two groups according to frequency of HSIL (4.6% versus 1.8%), ASCUS/AGUS (7.8% versus 3.5%) and invasive carcinoma (1.3% versus 0.6%). The frequency of LSIL was greater in the HIV positive group with CD4 cell count < 350 cells/mm(3). The viral load, therapeutic regimen and HIV subgroups (HIV-positive without therapy, HIV-positive with therapy, AIDS by immunological criteria and AIDS by clinical criteria) have not shown relationship with LSIL frequency, until now.