Increased cervical dysplasia in intravenous cyclophosphamide-treated patients with SLE: a preliminary study

Lupus. 2000;9(7):542-4. doi: 10.1177/096120330000900711.

Abstract

To determine if intravenous cyclophosphamide (IV-C) causes an excess of cervical dysplasia and/or cancer in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, a retrospective review was conducted. Patients with SLE who received IV-C between 1988-98 (study group) were compared with a group of SLE patients who had not received IV-C (control group). Of the 79 IV-C-treated SLE patients identified, we excluded 18 because of absence of pertinent data. We found 10 cases of cervical dysplasia in the remaining 61 patients, compared to 2 in 49 non-exposed patients (P<0.04). Comparison of the two groups revealed no difference in: mean years of disease duration, months of follow-up and age. The non-exposed patients were more likely to be on estrogen and hydroxychloroquine but less often on steroids and azathioprine. The study group with and without dysplasia were assessed; we found no difference in the mean, or total IV-C dose, smoking and estrogen use. There was a significant decrease in time to dysplasia in those, given IV-C, with previous dysplasia compared to those without. These preliminary data suggests that IV-C causes an increased number of abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in SLE patients, particularly those with previous dysplasia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Asia / ethnology
  • Black People
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / mortality
  • Middle Aged
  • New York
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / chemically induced
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / epidemiology*
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / mortality
  • White People

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Cyclophosphamide