The role of HIV as an independent risk factor to cervical HSIL recurrence.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of being human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive for predicting the risk of recurrence in women with a cervical high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) diagnosis.

METHODS

Retrospective observational case-control study, comprising HIV positive (case) and HIV negative (control) women in a 1:4 ratio. Women assisted by the Erasto Gaertner Hospital, between 2009-2018, with cervical HSIL diagnosis, submitted to treatment by Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and with a minimum follow-up of 18 months, were included. The immunological status, number and time to recurrence were analyzed, with p<0.05 considered significant. In a second analysis, only patients with free margins were evaluated.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 320 women (64 cases and 256 controls). Presence of HIV, CD4 levels <200 and detectable viral load (CV) were associated with high risk of recurrence, with odds ratio (OR) of 5.4 (p<0.001/95CI:2.8-10); 3.6 (p<0.001 /IC95:0.6-21.1) and 1.8 (p=0.039 /IC95:0.3-9.3), respectively. In the sample with free margins (n=271), this risk was also higher among seropositive patients, with OR 4.18 (p=0.001/95CI:1.8-9.2).

CONCLUSION

HIV is an independent risk factor for cervical HSIL recurrence and reduced disease-free survival time. Glandular involvement, compromised margins, undetectable CV and CD4<200 also increase the risk of relapse.