PI Perspective #24

April 1998     View PDF

Cervical Cancer and Viral Load

Several studies looking at the role of HIV viral load as a predictor for disease progression and death have recently been reported. These studies confirm that high viral load is a predictor for disease progression. One study focused on the role of viral load in predicting an increased risk of pre-cancerous or cancerous cervical abnormalities. In this study of 2,000 women, those with viral loads greater than 50,000 copies of HIV RNA were at greater risk for developing squamous neoplasia (cancer) than those with lower viral loads. This risk for cervical cancers and pre-cancerous conditions also appear to be increased among women with lower CD4+ cell counts who have a history of human papilomavirus (HPV) infection. In addition, data from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) have shown that women with CD4+ cell counts below 50 and viral loads greater than 500,000 copies of HIV RNA have the greatest risk of death. Although this may not be a surprise, it is another reason to consider treatment strategies to suppress viral activity and boost CD4+ cell counts.