OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a citologia anal com escova pode servir para rastreamento das lesões clínicas e subclínicas provocadas pelo HPV. MÉTODOS: Colhemos citologia anal, com escova, do canal anal de 102 doentes HIV-positivo com queixas proctológicas. Eram 86 homens e 16 mulheres com média etária de 37 anos. Destes, 33 negavam infecção pelo HPV, 14 haviam tratado verrugas, 28 tinham condilomas externos, sete apresentavam lesões internas e 20 os tinham em associação. O material foi enviado para exame de papanicolaou e coloração pela hematoxilina-eosina. Avaliamos as contagens de linfócitos T CD4+ para observar se o estado imunológico determinou as displasias mais avançadas. RESULTADOS: Somente um exame não pôde ser aproveitado. Os demais revelaram padrões celulares que variaram da normalidade até NIAa, incluindo a presença do HPV. Ocorreram 30 NIAs de baixo e 13 de alto grau em todos os grupos de doentes, com ou sem infecção pelo HPV. Em um dos doentes com NIAa e sem história prévia de infecção pelo HPV, e com úlcera no canal anal, a biópsia revelou carcinoma espinocelular invasivo. As médias de células T CD4+ nos portadores de NIA de baixo grau foi 281/mm³ e naqueles com NIAa foi 438/mm³. A análise estatística mostrou diferença significante, revelando que, ao contrário do esperado, displasias menos acentuadas acometem doentes com contagens menores de linfócitos T CD4+. Esse fato demonstra que a imunidade sistêmica isolada parece não interferir na gênese dessas lesões, sugerindo que aspectos da imunidade local devam ser estudados. A avaliação estatística feita com a tabela 2x2 revelou sensibilidade de 74% e especificidade de 61%. CONCLUSÃO: Acreditamos que a citologia anal possa servir para esse rastreamento, selecionando os doentes para colposcopia anal e biópsias.
BACKGROUND: High grade intra-epithelial neoplasias (HAIN) are probable precursors of anal carcinoma, with association to high-risk types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This progression could be related to severity of the dysplasia and, albeit not yet confirmed, treatment of these lesions would prevent the evolution to cancer. Standardization and improvement of screening methods should therefore be essential to treat or prevent precursor lesions, mainly in patients at risk such as seropositives to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The aim of this study was to evaluate if anal cytology, with a cytobrush, could be useful to screen clinic and pre-clinic lesions provoked by HPV. METHODS: Brushes were used to obtain smears from the anal canal of 102 HIV-positive patients with proctologic complaints. There were 86 males and 16 females with a mean age of 37 years. HPV infection was denied by 33 patients, 14 had treated anal warts in the past, 28 had condylomas in the anal verge, seven had internal clinical lesions and 20 had both internal and external condylomas. The smears were submitted to Pappanicolaou and hematoxilin-eosin stains to identify cytological changes including HAIN. T CD4+ lymphocyte counts were also evaluated to check if the immunologic status caused more advanced dysplasia. RESULTS: One smear only proved insufficient. All the others revealed cellular patterns varying from normality to HAIN. Low grade AIN (LAIN) occurred in 30 and HAIN in 13 patients. One patient with HAIN, without a history of HPV infection in the past, presented an anal canal ulcer which at biopsy was diagnosed as invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. T CD4+ cells averaged 281/mm³ for LAIN patients and 438/mm³ for HAIN patients. Analyses disclosed a statistical difference, showing that despite expectations, more advanced dysplasias occurred in patients with higher counts of T CD4+ cells. This fact demonstrated that isolated systemic immunity did not seem to interfere in the genesis of these lesions, suggesting that aspects of local immunity should be studied. Statistical analyses by a 2x2 table revealed sensibility of 74% and specificity of 61%. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that cytology could be used to diagnose anal cancer precursors.