title: Effect of the treatment with β-glucan in women with cervical cytologic report of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (L-SIL).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of β-glucan in women with ASCUS or L-SIL, as detected by cervical cytologic screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 356 women with ASCUS or L-SIL were enrolled and divided into two groups: 1) 176 patients, treated with topical β-glucan; and 2) 180 patients who were only followed-up. The treatment consisted of two cycles of topical β-glucan applied once a day for 20 consecutive days and treatment separated by ten days. The effect of β-glucan was evaluated comparing Pap cytology results and colposcopic findings between treated patients and controls after 6 and 12 months of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 6 months from enrollment, 63.1% (111/176) of patients treated with β-glucan had a negative Pap smear versus 45% (81/180) of controls (P<0.001), and 43.4% (36/83) of treated patients versus 18.2% (14/77) of controls experienced the disappearance of colposcopic lesions (P=0.001). At the end of the 12-month follow up, 83.5% (147/176) of treated patients versus 60% (108/180) of controls had a negative Pap smear (P<0.001), and 55.4% (46/83) of treated patients versus 24.7% (19/77) of controls experienced the disappearance of colposcopic lesions (P<0.001). No side effects were observed in treated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β-glucan increases the spontaneous regression rate of low-grade cytologic abnormalities as well as cervical findings.
authors: Department of Gynecology Obstetrics and Urologic Sciences "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy - gianluigilaccetta@libero.it.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Laccetta
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Carrone
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Burratti
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Mancino
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D065309:Atypical Squamous Cells of the Cervix / Q000187:drug effects*; D003127:Colposcopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D065310:Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047071:beta-Glucans