title: Factors affecting the clearance of high-risk human papillomavirus infection and the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify factors that predict clearance of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or higher, in women with normal cervical histology or CIN 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed  on 817 high-risk HPV-infected women with histologically verified CIN 1 or normal cervical histology. Patients were followed-up for a maximum of 24 months. Cervical HPV DNA tests were performed at every visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of followup, 648/817 (79.3%) patients were free from HPV infection  and 66/817 patients (8.1%) progressed to CIN 2 or higher. Age, parity, cytology and viral load at diagnosis were significantly and inversely associated with HPV clearance. Cytology, viral load and presence of CIN 1 lesions were significantly associated with lesion progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytology and high-risk HPV viral load may be useful markers for the likelihood of high-risk HPV clearance and lesion progression. Histological status, parity and marital status may also be useful factors to consider when predicting progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral