Correlation Between Cytological Findings in Pap Smears of Patients with ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL, with Subtypes of Human Papillomavirus

Background & Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infectious and pathogenic agent, with certain genotypes capable of causing malignant changes in the surface of mucosal cells. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the types of human papillomavirus (HPV) present in patients with ASC-US Pap smears.Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 157 women who were referred to gynecologists for HPV screening from November 2023 to June 2024 in Zabol citiy. Data on demographic information, obstetric history, oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use, history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and high-risk behaviors, cervical treatments, HPV type, Pap smear results, colposcopy findings, and cervical biopsy results were recorded and analyzed.Results: This study analyzed various HPV genotypes using PCR and hybridization methods, identifying both high-risk and low-risk types, with low-risk genotype 6 being the most prevalent (28%). Low-risk HPV types accounted for 13.4% of cases, while high-risk types represented 11%. The significant association between age and HPV infection rate (P<0.05). Most women had an education level below a diploma, and the primary motivation for undergoing a Pap smear was a doctor's recommendation. Among 71 positive samples, 31 cases (19.7%) were ASC-US, and the findings were statistically significant (P<0.01).Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, ASC-US Pap smears require more detailed investigation, such as colposcopy and cervical biopsy, under the supervision of experts, due to their association with high-risk HPV in many cases.