Seropositivity against HPV 16 capsids: a better marker of past sexual behaviour than presence of HPV DNA.
OBJECTIVE
To assess if seropositivity to human papillomavirus type 16 capsids is a better marker of sexual history than the presence of HPV DNA.


METHODS
A population based age stratified random sample of 234 Norwegian women (mean age 32.8 years, range 20-44) was examined for HPV serum antibodies, cervical HPV DNA, cytology and age in relation to sexual behaviour.


RESULTS
Neither age nor age at first sexual intercourse was associated with HPV 16 antibodies. Adjusted ORs for 4-5; 6-10 and > 10 versus 0-1 lifetime sexual partners, were 13.1 (95% CI 1.5-110.8), 8.2 (1.0-69.6) and 10.5 (1.2-94.0) for HPV 16 seropositivity, respectively; and 2.6 (0.2-27.8), 3.4 (0.4-31.7) and 4.1 (0.4-42.8) for HPV 16 DNA positivity, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Seropositivity to HPV 16 capsids is positively associated with the number of sexual partners, suggesting that HPV 16 is predominantly sexually transmitted. The fact that serology had a stronger association with number of sexual partners than viral DNA suggests that seroreactivity is a better measure of lifetime history of HPV infection.
Olsen
A O
AO
Department of Population Health Sciences, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Dillner
J
J
Gjøen
K
K
Magnus
P
P
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral