Prevalence and Risk Factors of Human Papillomavirus Infection in 18–Year–Old Women: Baseline Report of a Prospective Study on Human Papillomavirus Vaccine. Issue 1 (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Igidbashian, Sarah; Boveri, Sara; Bottari, Fabio; Vidal Urbinati, Ailyn; Preti, Eleonora; Casadio, Chiara; Landoni, Fabio; Sideri, Mario; Sandri, Maria Teresa
• Is Part Of: Journal of lower genital tract disease. Volume 21:Issue 1(2017:Jan.)
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: HPV vaccination -- HPV infection -- sexual behavior -- healthy behavior -- prevention -- vaccine coverage; Generative organs, Female -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cervix uteri -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Generative organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; 618.1
• DOI: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000268
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1089-2591

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Little is known about the epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) in Italy before the age of 25. At the European Institute of Oncology, a prospective observational study on cervical HPV infection in 18-year-old women undergoing quadrivalent HPV vaccination is ongoing. Methods: At the first visit before vaccination, all the young women answered an epidemiological questionnaire, and then, the presence of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) was tested. Samples positive for hrHPV were genotyped. Liquid-based cytology was done only to women declaring not to be virgins. Any positivity at cytology or HPV testing was completed with colposcopy and eventually biopsies. Results: Seven hundred and thirty women were enrolled. Two hundred sixty-six women were virgins; 7 (2.6%) of these resulted positive to hrHPV: 1 had HPV16 and CP6108, whereas the other 6 resulted negative at genotyping. Of the 464 nonvirgins, 61 (13.1%) were HPV positive: 19 had HPV16, 4 were positive to HPV18 with other hrHPVs, 25 to other hrHPVs, 7 to low-risk HPV, whereas 13 resulted negative at genotyping. HPV positivity was significantly associated to both smoking and having more than 3 partners. Cervical cytology was negative in 433 cases (93.3%), ASC-US in 10 cases (2.2%), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in 20 cases (4.3%), and ASC-H in 1 case (0.2%). No CIN2+ was identified. Conclusions: Overall, we found a low positivity to HPV in this population; however, the rate of HPV positivity was significantly related to smoking and sexual life. The cytology result low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was more frequent than in the screening population, whereas no CIN2+ was identified, confirming the indication to avoid screening at this age. Abstract : Low positivity rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in 18-year-old women represents a target for catch-up programs, improving HPV vaccine coverage and encouraging healthy behaviors and HPV vaccination.