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Langerhans cell density and high‐grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia in women with human immunodeficiency virus infection
Author(s) -
Taube Janis M.,
Nichols Andrew D.,
Bornman Lynette S.,
Bornman Daniel M.,
Jackson Jay Brooks
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2006.00663.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia , vulva , cervical intraepithelial neoplasia , squamous intraepithelial lesion , immunohistochemistry , cervix , pathology , gastroenterology , immunology , cervical cancer , cancer
Background: Decreased numbers of Langerhans cells (LCs) in the cervix of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected women are believed to contribute to the progression of human papilloma virus (HPV)‐related squamous intraepithelial lesions. However, this impairment of local immunity has not been well studied in the vulva. The objective of this study was to compare the S100+ LC density in high‐grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) in HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative women. Methods: HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative patients with high‐grade VIN, 48 (55%) and 40 (45%), respectively, were identified by retrospective chart review. Smoking status of patients was noted. The mean LC count per high‐power field (HPF) was determined using S100 immunohistochemical staining. In situ hybridization was performed to detect HPV DNA types 16 and 18. Results: Mean S100+ LC counts for HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative patients were 5.82 and 9.86 per HPF, respectively (p = 0.0026). LC counts in HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative patients were compared between smoking and nonsmoking groups (HIV‐positive p = 0.4812, HIV‐negative p = 0.2821). Conclusions: HIV‐positive patients with high‐grade VIN had significantly lower LC counts compared with HIV‐negative patients. This suggests that local vulvar immunity as evaluated by S100+ LCs is impaired in HIV‐positive women, possibly contributing to the progression of HPV‐related vulvar lesions.