Is human papillomavirus viral load a clinically useful predictive marker? A longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It has been suggested that in women who test positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, viral load can distinguish women who are at increased risk of cervical neoplasia from those who are not.

Methods

Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure HPV copy number in serial samples taken from 60 and 58 young women previously found to have incident cervical HPV16 or HPV18 infections, respectively, using GP5+/GP6+ primers; women provided at least three samples for qPCR testing, at least one of which was positive.

Results

A 10-fold increase in HPV16 or HPV18 copy number was associated with a modestly increased risk of acquiring a cytologic abnormality [HPV16: hazards ratio, 1.76 (95% confidence interval, 1.38-2.25); HPV18: hazards ratio, 1.59 (95% co

SUBMITTER: Constandinou-Williams C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2837003 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature