Authors:
Castellsagué X, Naud P, Chow SN, Wheeler CM, Germar MJ, ..., Skinner SR, et al.
Authors notes:
Journal of Infectious Diseases 210(4): 517-534.
Keywords:
cervical abnormality, HPV, infection, naturally acquired antibodies, risk reduction
Abstract:
We examined risk of newly detected human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical abnormalities in relation to HPV type 16/18 antibody levels at enrollment in PATRICIA (Papilloma Trial Against Cancer in Young Adults; NCT00122681).
We compared risk of newly detected infection and cervical abnormalities associated with HPV-16/18 between seronegative vs seropositive women (15-25 years) in the control arm (DNA negative at baseline for the corresponding HPV type [HPV-16: n = 8193; HPV-18: n = 8463]).
High titers of naturally acquired HPV-16 antibodies and/or linear trend for increasing antibody levels were significantly associated with lower risk of incident and persistent infection, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or greater (ASCUS+), and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 1/2 or greater (CIN1+, CIN2+).
For HPV-18, although seropositivity was associated with lower risk of ASCUS+ and CIN1+, no association between naturally acquired antibodies and infection was demonstrated.
Naturally acquired HPV-16 antibody levels of 371, and 480 EU/mL were associated with 90% reduction of incident infection, 6-month persistent infection, and ASCUS+, respectively.
Naturally acquired antibodies to HPV-16, and to a lesser extent HPV-18, are associated with some reduced risk of subsequent infection and cervical abnormalities associated with the same HPV type.