Inflammatory bowel disease not linked to cervical abnormalities

Last Updated: 2009-03-13 12:11:47 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Contrary to an earlier finding, Canadian researchers have found little evidence of an association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) per se and cervical abnormalities on Pap smears. However, there was an association with immunosuppressant use for IBD.

Dr. Harminder Singh and colleagues at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg matched 19,692 women with cervical histologic or cytologic abnormalities on Pap smears with 57,898 women who had normal Pap smears.

As reported in the March issue of Gastroenterology, the team found no association between cervical abnormalities and ulcerative colitis. For Crohn's disease, there was an increase in risk of cervical abnormalities only for 10 or more prescriptions of oral contraceptives during the five years preceding the cytologic abnormality, carrying an odds ratio (OR) of 1.66.

The authors say one possible explanation is that oral contraceptives indicate greater sexual activity, and perhaps an increased risk of infection.

On the other hand, a combination of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants increased the risk of cervical abnormalities "independent of the effect of IBD," with an OR of 1.41.

This "may be of relevance in managing women with IBD using these drugs," Dr. Singh and colleagues advise.

Gastroenterology 2009;136:451-458.