title: Screening HIV-infected women for cervical cancer in Thailand: findings from a demonstration project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although cervical cancer is an AIDS-defining illness, few HIV-infected women are routinely screened for cervical cancer in Thailand. We screened HIV-infected women for cervical cancer as a component of HIV care and assessed high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer prevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 2003 through February 2004, HIV-infected women attending either an infectious disease clinic or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Bangkok were tested for high-risk HPV types by Hybrid Capture 2 and screened for cervical cancer by Pap test; those with abnormal cervical cytology were referred for diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred ten HIV-infected women at an infectious disease clinic (n = 150) and an STI clinic (n = 60) received cervical cancer screening. The high-risk HPV prevalence was 38.6% and the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology was 20.4%. Abnormal cervical cytology and high-risk HPV detection were associated (P < 0.001). We received pathology reports for 23 (53.5%) of 43 women, including all those with a Pap test showing high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions; the cervical cancer prevalence was 1.9% (4 of 210; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-4.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The estimated prevalence of high-risk HPV and cervical cancer among HIV-infected women in Thailand was high. This emphasizes the need to integrate cervical cancer screening into HIV care.
authors.affiliation: STI Division, Bureau of AIDS, TB and STIs, Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pachara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirivongrangson
authors.forename: Liesbeth J M
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bollen
authors.forename: Achara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaovavanich
authors.forename: Orapin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Suksripanich
authors.forename: Pongsri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Virapat
authors.forename: Preecha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tunthanathip
authors.forename: Jarurnsook
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ausavapipit
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lokpichat
authors.forename: Umaporn
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siangphoe
authors.forename: Naiyana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jirarojwat
authors.forename: Vallerut
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pobkeeree
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Supawitkul
authors.forename: Jordan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tappero
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000254:growth & development*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*