Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are more likely to have an abnormal pap smear result than other women. This is important because abnormal smears can be associated with cervical cancer. Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong investigated the rate of abnormal Pap smears and associated factors in 85 women with lupus and 2080 healthy women. Abnormal Pap smears were seen three times more often in lupus patients than in other women. Moreover, for certain high-risk findings, the risk was increased nearly sevenfold in lupus patients. In addition to lupus, other risk factors for an abnormal Pap smear included a history of sexually transmitted disease, HPV infection, four or more sexual partners, early age of first sexual activity, and low education level. It was found that multiple HPV infections were more common among lupus patients than among other women and infections with high-risk HPV types were nearly three times more likely in lupus patients than in controls. The researchers concluded that physicians should be vigilant about this treatable condition, and that lupus patients who are infected with high-risk types of HPV, such as type 16 and 18, should get a Pap smear every 6 months instead of every year.
Arthritis & Rheumatism,
December 2004