title: [Human papillomavirus vaccination. Consensus Conference in pediatric age].
abstract: Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Spontaneous clearance of HPV infection occurs in most cases, but chronic infection with high risk genotypes is associated with the development of cervical cancer. In particular, HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cancers of the cervix and, in variable proportions, for cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis and oropharinx. Low risk HPV genotypes, such as HPV 6 and 11, cause genital warts. Two prophylactic vaccines using virus like particles (VLPs) of L1 capside protein of HPV 16 and 18 have been developed. Of these, one also containing VLPs of HPV 6 and 11, has been approved by FDA, EMEA and AIFA for use in 9-26 year-old females. Large scale studies have shown that these vaccines are safe, well tolerated, elicits high levels of neutralizing antibodies, prevent chronic HPV infections due to genotypes present in the vaccine, and associated cervical lesions (and genital wars for the quadrivalent vaccine). To be effective the vaccines should be given prior to sexual debut. In Italy, the vaccination will be offered to 12 year-old girls. This article is the result of a targeted Consensus Conference by a panel of experts, which reviews the cornerstones of HPV infection, its association with cervical cancer, the advances in prophylactic vaccines, and the primary role of the paediatrician for the optimal adoption of this new preventive strategy.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartolozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bona
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciofi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Martino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duse
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marostica
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paravati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Zuccotti
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tovo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D032921:Consensus; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D000068857:Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000068857:Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines