title: Cervical cytological abnormalities and human papilloma virus infection in women infected with HIV in Southern India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the association between CD4 count, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, and the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia among HIV-infected women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 104 HIV-infected women attending an antiretroviral therapy clinic. They underwent Pap smear and cervical HPV DNA testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 57.7%. HPV 16 was the commonest genotype found (38.5%); HPV 16 and 18 put together contributed to 73.3% of HPV infection; 27.5% of HIV-infected women had squamous cell abnormalities. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was less likely among women with CD4 count > 500/mm3(12%) and in those without opportunistic infections (17.8%). The prevalence of high-risk HPV infection was higher in women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or greater lesions (85.7%) as compared to women with normal cytology (52.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of HPV infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-infected women warrants the need for regular Pap smear screening in these women and routine HPV vaccination for adolescents to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in India.
authors.affiliation: Department of OBG, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Suchitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thunga
authors.affiliation: Life Line Hospital, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Anusmitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramapuram
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Kapaettu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satyamoorthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Hema
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kini
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unnikrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Prabha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Prakhar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shama Prasada
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kabekkodu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Samatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Anagha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Salem, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Avinash K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shetty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*
keywords: HIV; Pap smear; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; human papilloma virus