14th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association 23-25 April 2008, Belfast

ANAL CYTOLOGY SCREENING IN HIV-POSITIVE HOMOSEXUAL MEN: EXPERIENCE IN A CITY CENTRE HIV CLINIC

HIV Med 2008 Apr 23-25 (Suppl 1);14:6 (abstract no. O24)

L Goodall
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Edinburgh, UK

OBJECTIVES: To determine uptake of anal cytology testing, frequency of abnormal smears and risk factors associated with abnormal anal cytology in HIV positive homosexual men attending HIV clinic.

METHODS: A retrospective case-note review was performed of all homosexual patients attending a city centre HIV clinic over a 12-month period, ending December 2007.

RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty five homosexual HIV positive patients were seen in the study period. Two hundred and fifteen patients (75%) were offered anal cytology, of which 134 (62%) accepted testing. Twenty eight of these had abnormal anal cytology (21%). Patients with abnormal anal cytology were less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy (61% on treatment compared to 88% in those with normal smears) and more likely to smoke (46% versus 30%). They were also more likely to have had Chlamydia trachomatis (33% versus 16%) or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (22% versus 12%) infection within the last year or any prior history of genital warts (39% versus 22%). There was no apparent association between anal cytology and CD4 count or time since HIV diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Anal smears are a valuable screening tool for detection of anal cytological abnormalities in HIV positive homosexual men. The high rate of cytological abnormalities seen argues for routine screening in this group at high risk of anal carcinoma.

2008-04-23
O24

Copyright © 2008 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD