In our prospective, monocentric study, 101 HIV patients of the Interdisciplinary HIV Center at the Klinikum rechts der Isar (IZAR) were cytologically examined for the presence of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) during the period 2013-2015. At the same time, laboratory parameters (CD4 cell count, CD4-nadir, CD4-8 ratio, viral load, vitamin D3 level, lues and hepatitis serology) were recorded. The aim of the study was to perform an epidemiological classification of this patient population for the first time and to identify risk factors for the development of AIN in this population. Another focus was the control of conspicuous findings after a three-month period.
35% of all examinations revealed striking anal cytological findings, the most common were mild to moderate AIN (PAP IIID); this was the case in 24%. A PAP IVa finding in terms of severe AIN was found in 11% of all cases.
A significant correlation between a conspicuous smear finding and nicotine abuse (p = 0.005), the presence of condylomata acuminata (p = 0.045) and a positive lues serology (p = 0.016) could be shown. In particular, the positive correlation between an acute or treated lues infection and a pathological anal cytology has not been described in the literature so far.
No significant association was found between a conspicuous smear finding and the patient's age, sex, HIV stage according to CDC, immunity parameters (CD4 cell count, CD4-nadir, CD4-8 ratio, viral load), infection mode , vitamin D level, hepatitis B or C infection, the therapy status or the individual therapeutic substance classes.
In a follow-up examination three months after the first smear, high rates of spontaneous regressions were unexpectedly found. This was the case in 25% of previously low to moderate AIN; in the group of severe AIN in 27%. One patient showed a reduction in severity after three months (from PAP IVa to PAP IIID).
Parallel to these remissions, a (sometimes only small) increase in the CD4 cell count could be detected in some cases.
A total of 46% of patients with low to moderate AIN and 91% of patients with high-grade AIN underwent anoscopy. For the most part, unremarkable macroscopic findings were found. Conspicuous areas were biopsied and showed a colorful picture of histological findings: Verruzziform acanthoma and condylomata plana (1x), keratoacanthoma (syn: self-healing squamous cell carcinoma) with bowenoid atypia (1x), intra-anal condylomata acuminata (1x), regular anal mucosa without pathological findings (1x ). Furthermore, a highly differentiated verrucous squamous cell carcinoma Buschke-Löwenstein was diagnosed, but this has already been visible during inspection of the anus. All patients with conspicuous histology were male and smoker.
With the results obtained in this study, the following recommendations are possible:
● Nicotine abuse correlates with pathological findings in anal cytology. Patients should therefore be encouraged to abstain from smoking and be assisted in this regard.
● Screening for STDs is important because of the correlation between positive lues serology and pathological findings in anal cytology. The importance of safer sex practices is enormous (especially for HIV patients) and should therefore be included in the medical consultation.
● Due to the high rate of spontaneous remission of even severe AIN, a follow-up visit after three months may be considered instead of an immediate anoscopy. The value of this approach should be reviewed in further studies.
● The cytological examination of the anus provides the framework for sensitively speaking with patients about the often shame-infested and repressed diseases of the anogenital region. This possibility should be used.
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In our prospective, monocentric study, 101 HIV patients of the Interdisciplinary HIV Center at the Klinikum rechts der Isar (IZAR) were cytologically examined for the presence of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) during the period 2013-2015. At the same time, laboratory parameters (CD4 cell count, CD4-nadir, CD4-8 ratio, viral load, vitamin D3 level, lues and hepatitis serology) were recorded. The aim of the study was to perform an epidemiological classification of this patient population for...
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