Clue cells Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Purpose: to evaluate a group of pregnant women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, analyzing age, gestational age, number of gestations and cytological findings. Methods: in the period from July 1993 to December 1998, 245 pregnant patients seen in our service presented cytological alterations compatible with HPV infection, associated or not with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1. Clinical data were related to age, gestational period (first or second half), number of gestations and cytological finding of Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida sp and clue cells. The control group consisted of 386 pregnant patients seen during the same period and without cytological signs of HPV infection. In the statistical analysis, chi² (chi-square) test was used with Yates correction and a significance level lower than 0.05. Results: HPV infection was more frequent among pregnant women younger than 20 years old (45.3% versus 28.2%, p<0.001). The most frequent cytological finding, among the pregnant women with HPV infection, was the presence of clue cells, compared to the controls (21.6% versus 12.4%, p<0.02). Clue cells were more frequent in pregnant women with HPV infection in the second half of gestation and older than 20 years (27% versus 12.2%, p<0,01). The difference regarding number of gestations was not significant. Conclusion: HPV infection was more frequent among pregnant women younger than 20 years old. Clue cells and HPV were the most frequent cytological findings in pregnant women older than 20 years and in the second half of gestation.