Natural history of cervical papilloma virus infection in systemic lupus erythematosus - a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the incidence, cumulative prevalence, persistence, and clearance of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to assess the risk factors for the acquisition and persistence of HPV infection.


METHODS
One hundred forty-four patients with SLE were evaluated at 6-month intervals for up to 3 years. At each visit, a Pap test, a test for HPV DNA, and clinical assessment were performed.


RESULTS
The cumulative prevalence of HPV infection increased significantly (12.5% at baseline to 25.0% after 3 years; p = 0.006). Regarding type-specific HPV infection, 18.8% patients experienced 68 incident infections. The cumulative prevalence of high-risk HPV infection (11.1% at baseline to 20.8% after 3 years; p = 0.02) and multiple HPV infection also increased significantly (6.9% at baseline to 16.7% after 3 years; p = 0.009). Half (33/68, 48.5%) of the incident infections persisted for >or= 6 months. Overall, 29/32 (90.6%) of the preexisting infection and 10/68 (14.7%) of the incident infections were cleared. Independent risk factors associated with incident HPV infection included younger age at first sexual intercourse (p = 0.025) and baseline Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics score >or= 1 (p = 0.038). Independent risk factor associated with persistent HPV infection included preexisting HPV infection (p = 0.04) and multiple HPV infection during first incident infection (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
High frequency of persistent HPV infection, especially high-risk and multiple HPV infection, may explain why squamous intraepithelial lesions occurred frequently in patients with SLE. Patients with high inflammatory burden are at risk of acquiring HPV infection.
Tam
Lai-Shan
LS
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. tamls_813@yahoo.com
Chan
Paul K S
PK
Ho
Suzanne C
SC
Yu
May M Y
MM
Yim
So-Fan
SF
Cheung
Tak-Hong
TH
Wong
Martin C S
MC
Li
Edmund K
EK
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018579:Patient Selection; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004279:DNA, Viral