title: Associations between sexually transmitted infections, high-risk human papillomavirus infection, and abnormal cervical Pap smear results in OB/GYN outpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the meaning and usefulness of sexually transmitted infection (STI) test when caring for patients who have abnormal cervical cytology and/or positive high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among patients who underwent liquid-based cervical cytology and HPV DNA tests at the Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinic, 800 patients who showed abnormal cervical cytology were compared with 200 patients in the control group. Both groups were simultaneously tested via multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction for seven types of STI-causative microorganisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of high-risk HPV infection in total STIs positive group was 1.47 times higher than that of total STIs negative group. The probability of a cytological diagnosis of a grade equal to or higher than atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) was significantly higher in patients testing positive for total STIs (1.46 times), Chlamydia trachomatis (3.21 times), or Mycoplasma genitalicum (3.58 times) than in those testing negative. The total STIs positive rate was significantly higher for those having a cytological diagnosis of a grade equal to or higher than atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) when high-risk HPV test result was negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correlations were present not only between STIs and high-risk HPV infection but also between abnormal cervical cytology and STIs. Therefore, additional evaluation of STIs will be helpful to appropriately diagnose and treat patients with abnormal cervical cytology, positive results on high-risk HPV DNA test, or a cytological diagnosis of ASC-US despite negative high-risk HPV DNA test result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Sun
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7201-3957
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8856-3243
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. srh7661@naver.com.
authors.forename: Sung Ran
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D012306:Risk; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
keywords: Abnormal Cervical Cytology; Human Papillomavirus; Sexually Transmitted Diseases