VIRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION AND ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS AS RISK-FACTORS FOR CERVICAL DYSPLASIA

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major causal facto r of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); The potential role of n utrition as an additional, independent risk factor for CIN has: not be en appropriately addressed in the context of HPV. This case-control st udy evaluated the etiologic role of HPV in terms of viral type and loa d and examined the association between CIN and plasma levels of micron utrients adjusting for HPV. Cases (n = 378) with histo-pathologically confirmed CIN and controls (n = 366) with no history of abnormal Pap s mears were recruited from colposcopy and gynecology clinics, respectiv ely, Risk of CIN was significantly increased among women who were infe cted with multiple HPV types (odds ratio [OR]= 21.06), a high viral lo ad (OR = 13.08) and HPV 16 (OR = 62.49). After adjusting for HPV posit ivity and demographic factors, there was an inverse correlation betwee n plasma at-tocopherol and risk of CIN (OR = 0.15). Plasma ascorbic ac id was protective at a high level of greater than or equal to 0.803 mg /dl (OR = 0.46). CIN was not associated with plasma retinol and p-caro tene levels. The effect of genital HPV infection on CIN development is highly influenced by oncogenic viral type and high viral load. Vitami ns C and E may play an independent protective role in development of C IN that needs to be confirmed in prospective studies. (C) 1998 Wiley-L iss, Inc.