Significance of the viral load of high-risk HPV in the diagnosis and prediction of cervical lesions: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background The significance of HPV viral load in the detection of cervical lesions is still controversial. This study analyzed the correlation between the high-risk HPV viral load and different cervical lesion degrees. Methods This retrospective study included women positive for high-risk HPV DNA and screened for cervical lesions between 01/2015 and 06/2018. The high-risk HPV DNA load was measured by the second-generation Hybrid Capture technology and classified as low, moderate, and high. Colposcopy and biopsy were performed in all patients. The patients were grouped as normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1, CIN grade 2, CIN grade 3, and cervical cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to explore the association between high-risk HPV DNA load and cervical lesions. The odds ratios (ORs) represent the odds for increasing from low to high viral load. Results Finally, 265 patients were grouped as normal (n = 125), CIN 1 (n = 51), CIN 2 (n = 23), CIN 3 (n = 46), and cervical cancer (n = 20). Among them, 139 (52.5%) had a low viral load, 90 (34.0) had a moderate viral load, and 36 (13.4%) had a high viral load. Taking the normal control group as a reference, a high viral load was an independent factor for CIN 1 (OR = 3.568, 95% CI: 1.164–10.941, P = 0.026), CIN 2 (OR = 6.939, 95% CI: 1.793–26.852, P = 0.005), CIN 3 (OR = 7.052, 95% CI: 2.304–21.586, P = 0.001), and cervical cancer (OR = 8.266, 95% CI: 2.120–32.233, P = 0.002). Conclusions Among women who underwent cervical biopsy, higher high-risk HPV viral load in cervical lesions was associated with a higher risk of high-grade cervical lesions.

Impact of Red Sea Bream Iridovirus Infection on Rock Bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) and Other Fish Species: A Study of Horizontal Transmission

“…The severity of histopathological lesions can help to identify the viral pathogen and determine the appropriate course of action to control the disease [ 34 , 35 ]. In addition, understanding the correlation between viral load and the grade of the histopathological lesions can aid in developing effective treatment strategies for viral infections in fish [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. For example, antiviral drugs can be used to decrease the viral load and reduce the severity of histopathological changes [ 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Leveraging COVID-era innovation for cervical cancer screening: Clinician awareness and attitudes toward self-sampling and rapid testing for HPV detection

“…SARS-CoV-2 rapid tests, despite having lower sensitivity compared to PCR, accurately detect antigen levels during a person's infectious period, and thus are invaluable tools for determining isolation periods to limit transmission [34]. For cervical cancer, a rapid test may never be as sensitive as PCR, but could detect high enough levels of HPV that correlate with higher cervical cancer risk [35], so as to avoid overdiagnosis of patients [36]. Thus, the purpose of these tests should be to triage patients so that we can identify those at highest risk who need immediate follow-up tests like cytology or colposcopy.…”

Correlation between human papillomavirus viral load and cervical lesions classification: A review of current research

“…Most scholars ( 32 – 41 ) believe that there is a clear correlation between HPV viral load and the degree of cervical lesion, that is, as the viral load increases, the risk of cervical lesions increases. A large Chinese retrospective study ( 34 ), compared the viral load of ≤ CIN1 and CIN2 + patients in eight high-risk HPV genotypes (HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58/82).…”