Are Cervical Glandular Changes on Pap Tests Linked to HIV Infection?

Cytologic glandular abnormalities on Pap tests in women with HIV have not been studied thoroughly. Researchers followed 2791 HIV-seropositive and 975 at-risk seronegative women who underwent Pap smears every 6 months from 1994 through 2007. Results for HIV-positive women were stratified by CD4 lymphocyte count. Glandular abnormalities were classified as atypical glandular cells, adenocarcinoma in situ, and adenocarcinoma.

Glandular abnormalities were present in 1.0% of Pap tests among HIV-positive women with CD4 lymphocyte counts lower than 250/mm³, 0.8% of tests in women with counts from 250 to 500/mm³, 0.6% of tests in women with counts higher than 500/mm³, and 0.6% of tests in HIV-negative women (P for trend, 0.006). Only 61% of women wit…