Cervical Cytology Pattern Among HIV Positive Women on HAART And HIV Negative Women in North Central Nigeria. A Comparative Study
Abstract
Background: Abnormal cervical cytological pattern has been shown to be higher among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive women compared to their HIV negative counterparts.
Objective: To compare the cervical cytology pattern among HIV negative and HIV positive women on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).
Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective comparative study involving 157 HIV positive women on HAART (study group) and 157 HIV negative women (control group) attending the medical outpatient department, Gynaecology and family planning clinics. Sociodemographic data and data on cervical smear (Pap smear), CD4 count and viral load were collected and interpreted. Chi square test was used to analyse the data and the level of significance was set at P < 0.05.
Results: Abnormal Pap smear results (n=5; 1.6%) was not higher in HIV positive group (n=3; 1.9%) compared to the HIV negative group (n=2; 1.3%) (p=0.88 or p>0.05). 1 (0.64%) had LSIL, 1 (0.64%) had ASCUS, 1 (0.64%) also had AGUS and none had HSIL in HIV positive group while 1 (0.64%) had LSIL and 1 (0.64%) also had ASCUS but none had neither AGUS nor HSILin HIV negative group. Among HIV positive group, 1 (0.6%) had CD4 count of <200 cells/ml and 156 (99.4%) had CD4 count of >200 cells/ml.25 out of the 157 (15.9%) participants had viral load greater than 20copies/mm3 while 132 (84.1%) participants had viral load ≤20copies/mm3in the HIV positive group.
Conclusions: This study showed that abnormal cervical smear in HIV positive women on HAART is not higher than in HIV negative women.
Key-words: Cervical cytology, HIV positive, HIV negative, HAART
Key message: The study showed that cervical cytology is not significantly different between HIV negative and positive women on HAART, hence 3 yearly PAP smear screening similar to HIV negative women seems to be safe in low risk women living with HIV on HAART
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