Association between genital intraepithelial lesions and anal squamous intraepithelial lesions in HIV-negative women.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASILs) in immunocompetent women with genital squamous intraepithelial lesions (GSILs).

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study that included 260 immunocompetent women divided into 2 study groups: 1 group included 184 women diagnosed with GSIL by genital colposcopy and biopsy, and the other included 76 controls. All subjects were submitted to anoscopy followed by a biopsy if pertinent.

RESULTS

Of 184 GSIL women, 32 (17.4%) had ASIL (P<.001). The risk of ASIL was 13.1 times greater for GSIL women when there were 3 or 4 genital sites involved. All cases of high-grade ASIL were found in women with cervical GSILs. Among risk factors, anal intercourse without a condom demonstrated an important association with ASIL (prevalence ratio adjusted for age=2.6).

CONCLUSION

There seems to be a strong association between ASIL and multicentric GSIL. Another factor related to ASIL was the practice of unprotected anal intercourse.