High rates of anal dysplasia in HIV-infected men who have sex with men, women, and heterosexual men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine rates of anal dysplasia in a cohort of HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), women, and heterosexual men with abnormal anal cytology.


METHODS
We evaluated histologic findings in 728 HIV-infected MSM, women, and heterosexual men referred for high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) after abnormal anal cytology in a single-center cohort study. Using multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated predictors of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) histology or invasive carcinoma including age, sexual behavior, receptive anal intercourse (RAI), anogenital warts, smoking status, antiretroviral therapy, CD4 T-cell count, and HIV-1 plasma viral load.


RESULTS
A total of 2075 HIV-positive patients were screened with anal cytology and 62% of MSM, 42% of women, and 29% of heterosexual men had abnormal findings (P <0.001). Of the 728 HIV-infected patients with abnormal anal cytology who underwent HRA, 71% were MSM, 23% women, and 6% heterosexual men. HSIL/cancer was found in 32% of MSM, 26% of women, and 23% of heterosexual men (P = 0.3). There were five cases of anal squamous cell carcinoma (0.7%), four in MSM and one in a heterosexual man. In a multivariable adjusted analysis, biopsy-proven HSIL/cancer was associated with RAI [odds ratio (OR) 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-3.7]. CD4 T-cell counts more than 500/μl conferred a lower risk of HSIL/cancer (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Rates of anal HSIL histology are high in HIV-infected patients of all sexual risk groups with abnormal anal cytology. Consequently, all HIV-infected patients may warrant anal cancer screening.
aDivision of Infectious Diseases bDivision of General Internal Medicine cDepartment of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Michael
M
Gaisa
Keith
K
Sigel
Jonathan
J
Hand
Stephen
S
Goldstone
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000473:pathology*; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020010:Heterosexuality; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load