Using a new HPV detection system in epidemiological research: change of views on cervical dyskaryosis?

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) rises with increasing histolog ical severity of neoplasia, more cigarettes smoked per day and higher lifet ime number of sexual partners in women with cervical dyskaryosis. Recently, the highly sensitive SPF10 primers and Inno-LiPA (line probe assay) HPV pr ototype research assay became available for the detection and typing of HPV . Background: using this system, we challenged the previously reported find ings. Study design: the study group comprised 304 women referred because of abnormal pap smears in whom a histological diagnosis was made. Data on the lifetime number of sexual partners and smoking behaviour were obtained by questionnaire. HPV analysis was performed on cervical scrapes obtained at t he enrolment visit. Results: oncogenic HPV was found in 288 (95%) women. A total of 86 (30%) out of these 288 women disclosed multiple types. HPV 16 o ccurred significantly less often in multiple infections than was expected o n the basis of chance alone. The grade of neoplasia was significantly assoc iated with the presence of oncogenic HPV, and this association depended on the presence of HPV type 16. No association was found between grade of neop lasia and the presence of multiple HPV types. Neither the lifetime number o f sexual partners nor smoking were associated with oncogenic HPV, the five most frequent HPV types separately or the presence of multiple types. Concl usion: we conclude that the association between the detection of HPV and th e epidemiological risk factors, as found with the GP5/6 PCR in the past, co uld not be confirmed when using SPF10 PCR primers and LiPA HPV genotyping. We suggest that the number of sexual partners and smoking may be determinan ts of high HPV viral load rather than determinants of the presence of HPV p er se. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.