Importance of PAP smear in STD clinic: pioneer study from India
Gupta Ashima; Walia, R.L.S.; Goel Sudesh
Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases 25(1): 31-32
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-7184 Document Number: 253837
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyse the associations between sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis/clinical syndromes and abnormal PAP smears. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study of cervical cytology was carried out on 300 new patients at STD clinic at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala in Punjab, India. Diagnosis was made on the basis of history and clinical examination. Serological test for syphilis (STS) and PAP smear, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and urine complete examination were done in all the cases. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing could be done in 112 cases only. Smears for Candida, Trichomonas and gonorrhoea were taken in all vulvovaginitis patients. Results were recorded in a STD case file. RESULTS: Patients with various genital infections visiting the out-patients in decreasing order of frequency were vulvovaginitis 151/300 (50.3%); molluscum contagiosum 60/300 (20%); herpes simplex 41/300 (13.7%); syphilis 33/300 (11%); genital warts 12/300 (4%) and chancroid 3/300 (1%), respectively. Previous PAP smear was not taken in any case. PAP smear showed normal cytology in 131/300 (43.7%); inflammatory cytology 159/300 (53%) and dysplastic {cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN-1 to CIN-3)} changes in 11/300 (3.6%) cases. CONCLUSION: Higher proportions of abnormal than normal smears were also found in women with chancroid herpes simplex, genital warts and HIV infected individuals. These findings suggest a serious need for cervical cytology screening in STD clinics.