If this is not your name, click here.
| | If this is not your name, click here. | | |
| | Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague | | |
| |  Women With Persistent High-Risk HPV May Develop CIN Lesions Despite Normal Colposcopy: Presented at IPC By Louise Gagnon MONTREAL -- July 13, 2010 -- Research presented here at the 26th International Papillomavirus Conference (IPC) suggests women with persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) should be observed, given the possibility they may develop cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), even if they have normal colposcopy and histopathology. "Having high-risk HPV gives you a high risk of developing [high-grade] CIN," said Kristina Elfgren, MD, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, on July 6. A test needs to be performed at least twice to determine if the HPV infection is transient or persistent, said Dr. Elfgren, noting the data covered at least 5 to 7 years of follow-up of women. The study looked at data from Sweden's population-based cervical cancer screening program of an initial 12,256 women. After undergoing at least 2 HPV tests, women were asked to undergo colposcopy. A total of 28 women had CIN2/3 on colposcopy and underwent cone biopsy. The initial 100 women who had persistent, high-risk HPV with normal cytology were asked to undergo a third HPV test a year later. A total of 60 of 72 women who remained in the analysis had a third HPV test, and 28 were found to have persistent HPV of a high-risk type while the balance of women (32) cleared the infection. A total of 26 of 28 HPV-positive women underwent a second colposcopy. All had persistent HPV infection, and 6 had a diagnosis of CIN2+. A total of 18 of 22 women who remained in the study underwent a fourth HPV test a year later, with a total of 5 remaining HPV positive. "Having HPV positivity with a high-risk genotype for 3 or 4 years puts you at risk [of developing a high-grade CIN] even if you have negative cytology," said Dr. Elfgren. "As a colposcopist or gynecologist, whether you see a lesion or not, you probably need to biopsy." Other research has found that there are important co-factors, such as the presence of smoking or immune deficiencies, which influence if the infection remains, noted Dr. Elfgren. "We should strongly advise women to stop smoking [if they continue to have high-risk HPV infection]," said Dr. Elfgren. Further analysis will look at socio-economic status to see if it strengthens the threat of persistent high-risk HPV infection, she added. [Presentation title: Colposcopic 7-Years Follow-Up of Women With Persist HRHPV Infection. Abstract 351]
|
