title: Influence of sex hormones, HIV status, and concomitant sexually transmitted infection on cervicovaginal inflammation.
abstract: The impact of demographic characteristics, phase of the menstrual cycle, use of hormonal contraceptives, and concomitant lower genital-tract infections on cervicovaginal inflammatory cells was assessed in 967 women, 654 of whom were infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) fluid was evaluated for total white blood cell (WBC), polymorphonuclear leukocyte, and monocyte counts. HIV-1 infection was not associated with statistically significant differences in numbers of inflammatory cells in CVL fluid except in 1 group--HIV-1-infected women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection had a 0.43 log(10) higher WBC count than their HIV-uninfected, chlamydia-positive counterparts (P=.04). Younger age and use of progesterone-based hormonal contraceptives were independently associated with increased numbers of inflammatory cells in CVL fluid. A 0.15-0.2 log(10) increase in inflammatory cells was seen in black versus white and Hispanic women after adjustment for known potential confounders. Progesterone-based contraceptives, younger age, and race have an independent effect on cervicovaginal inflammatory cells.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA. kghanem@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Khalil G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Ghanem
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Jack D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sobel
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Denise J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Duerr
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rompalo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones