News Release

HPV linked to cervical lesions

Type specific persistence of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) as indicator of high grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in young women: population based prospective follow up study BMJ Volume 325, pp 572 - 576

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

Infection with humanpapillomavirus (HPV) is linked to an increased likelihood of cervical lesions in women, finds a study in this week's BMJ. The study, which involved over 10,000 women, found that those who were HPV positive had a significantly increased risk of developing low and high grade cervical lesions compared to women who did not have the virus.

10,758 women aged between 20 and 29 years of age with no history of abnormal cervical cell growth were given a cervical smear on joining the trial in 1991 and a follow up smear test two years later. Compared with women who were negative for human papillomavirus at enrolment, those who were HPV positive had a significantly increased risk at follow up of having squamous intraepithelial lesions; a precursor to invasive cervical cancer. Similarly, women who tested positive for HPV at the second examination had a strongly increased risk of low and high grade lesions.

However, women were most at risk of developing high grade lesions if they repeatedly tested positive to the same high risk HPV type.

The researchers conclude that HPV positivity precedes and predicts future cervical high grade lesions and that type specific persistence of HPV was strongly associated with the development of high grade lesions. In contrast for low grade lesions there was no significant difference in the risk associated with being HPV positive on both examinations with different types of HPV and having the same HPV type on both occasions.

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