Angiogenesis in squamous intraepithelial neoplasia of the uterine cervix in HIV-seropositive women.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to quantify angiogenesis in squamous intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix in seropositive HIV patients as well as to establish a relationship between vascular density and variations in the CD4+ lymphocyte titer and the viral load of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: 125 patients, 55 HIV seropositive and 70 seronegative, were allocated with respect to grade of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). The obtained samples were stained with an immunohistochemical marker for CD34 antigen and vessel counts were performed in ten consecutive fields at 400x magnification. The seropositive HIV patients were distributed into groups according to the CD4+ index and HIV viral load. RESULTS: Seropositive HIV patients presented a higher mean vascular density (MVD) than the control group, even in the absence of cervical intraepithelial lesions. High- and low-grade lesions in the presence of HIV seropositivity presented higher MVD than that found in seronegative HIV patients. There was no significant variation in the MVD and CD4+ count ratio or viral RNA-HIV load, except for high-grade (H)SIL. CONCLUSIONS: Infection with HIV influenced angiogenesis of uterine cervix in the presence of squamous intraepithelial lesions and more significantly in HSIL.