Abnormal pap smears in women with lupus

Lupus :: Abnormal pap smears in women with lupus

Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are more likely to have an abnormal Pap test result than other women, according to a new report. This is important because abnormal smears can be associated with cervical cancer.

"We believe the result of HPV testing can help us to determine the frequency of subsequent screening," the researcher added.

Tam's team 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, the investigators report in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. 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.