CHINA: Abnormal Pap Smears Common in Women with Lupus

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

CHINA: Abnormal Pap Smears Common in Women with Lupus

Reuters Health (12.10.04) - Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Will Boggs, MD

Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were more likely to have the abnormal Pap tests associated with cervical cancer than other women, a recent study found.

The 85 women with SLE researchers studied had three times the abnormal Pap smear results of 2,080 healthy female peers, investigators found. Other risk factors for abnormal Pap results included a history of STDs, HPV infection, four or more sexual partners, early age of first sexual activity, and low education level. With some risk factors, the abnormal Pap test risk was increased nearly seven-fold in SLE patients.

Multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) infections occurred more often among SLE patients than other women, with high-risk HPV types nearly three times more likely in SLE patients.

Study author Dr. Lai-Shan Tam, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, recommended an annual cervical cancer screening for all women with lupus. "We believe the result of HPV testing can help us determine the frequency of subsequent screening," he added. "Physicians should be vigilant [about] this treatable condition," said Tam, who recommended twice-annual exams for women with high-risk HPV types, such as 16 and 18.

The full report, "Increased Prevalence of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Association with Human Papillomavirus Infection," was published in Arthritis & Rheumatism (2004;50(11):3619-3625).
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