Risk of cervical HPV infection and prevalence of vaccine-type and other high-risk HPV types among sexually active teens and young women (13–26 years) enrolled in the VALHIDATE study

Abstract

HPV vaccination is expected to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. The greatest and the earliest health gains will be ensured by high vaccine coverage among all susceptible people. The high costs and the risk of a reduced cost/effectiveness ratio in sexually active girls still represent the main obstacles for a more widespread use of HPV vaccination in many countries. Data on the rate, risk factors, and HPV types in sexually active women could provide information for the evaluation of vaccination policies extended to broader age cohorts.Sexually active women aged 13–26 years enrolled in an Italian cohort study were screened for cervical HPV infections; HPV-DNA positive samples were genotyped by InnoLipa HPV Genotyping Extra or by RFLP genotype analysis.Among the 796 women meeting the inclusion criteria, 10.80% (95% CI 8.65–12.96) were HPV-DNA infected. Age >18 years, lifetime sexual partners >1, and history of STIs were associated to higher risk of HPV infection in the multivariable models adjusted for age, lifetime sexual partners, and time of sexual exposure. The global prevalence of the four HPV vaccine-types was 3.02% (95% CI 1.83–4.20) and the cumulative probability of infection from at least one vaccine-type was 12.82% in 26-years-old women and 0.78% in 18-years-old women.Our data confirm most of the previously reported findings on the risk factors for HPV infections. The low prevalence of the HPV vaccine-types found may be useful for the evaluation of the cost/efficacy and the cost/effectiveness of broader immunization programs beyond the 12-years-old cohort.

Inter-Pathogen Peptide Sharing and the Original Antigenic Sin: Solving a Paradox

“…HPV16 was chosen as a research model since papillomavirus infection or active immunization mostly occur in sexually active subjects [48] or in girls and boys aged 11-12 years [49], i.e., in individuals that have an immunologic past of encounters with numerous infectious agents. The pathogens HCMV, C. diphtheriae, C. tetani, B. pertussis, T. gondii, and T. cruzi were chosen to analyze the molecular basis of the impact of previous infections/immunizations since scientific-clinical literature and immunization protocols pose the first encounter with such pathogens early in the human life [50 -53].…”

Prevalence of genital, oral, and anal HPV infection among STI patients in Italy

“…In Europe the prevalence of genital HPV in women aged 35‐50 years is fairly low ranging from 13% in women with normal cervical cytology to 78% in women with high‐grade cervical lesions . A recent cohort study on Italian women, aged 13‐26 years, disclosed a genital HPV prevalence of 11% . In men, European data report a prevalence of penile HPV infection ranging between 2 and 73%, based on different sampling techniques …”

“…8 A recent cohort study on Italian women, aged 13-26 years, disclosed a genital HPV prevalence of 11%. 9 In men, European data report a prevalence of penile HPV infection ranging between 2 and 73%, based on different sampling techniques. 3 Our study disclosed a very high prevalence of genital HPV-DNA:…”

¿Por qué no se vacunan nuestras pacientes?: Motivos por los que las pacientes fuera de los programas de vacunación sistemática, con infección por el virus del Papiloma Humano, deciden decir no a la vacuna

“…Según datos publicados en la literatura el haber tenido más de una pareja sexual a lo largo de la vida, la edad temprana de inicio de relaciones sexuales y los antecedentes de infecciones de transmisión sexual, se asocian a un mayor riesgo de infección por VPH (9). A partir de los datos obtenidos en nuestro estudio sabemos que la media de edad de inicio de las relaciones sexuales de las mujeres encuestadas fue 17,7 años y que aproximadamente la mitad (n=104) de las pacientes habían tenido 5 ó más parejas a lo largo de su vida.…”