Probiotics enhance the clearance of human papillomavirus-related cervical lesions:  a prospective controlled pilot study.
Probiotics have been proposed for a number of urogenital infectious conditions. In this study, we examine a possible effect on human papillomavirus (HPV)-related precancerous lesions in cervical cytology. We conducted a prospective controlled pilot study, in which 54 women with an HPV+low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion diagnosis in their PAP smear were followed for 6 months. The intervention group consumed a daily probiotic drink during the study period; the control group received no treatment, according to common care policy. Outcome measures were the control PAP smear and HPV status after 6 months. Probiotic users had a twice as high chance of clearance of cytological abnormalities (60 vs. 31%, P=0.05). HPV was cleared in 19% of control patients versus 29% of probiotic users (P=0.41). This exploratory pilot study suggests that the probiotic studied promotes the clearance of HPV-related cytological abnormalities. If confirmed, this would represent an entirely new option to manage cervical cancer precursors.
Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, University Square 1, Wilrijk, Belgium. veronique.verhoeven@ua.ac.be
Veronique
V
Verhoeven
Nathalie
N
Renard
Amin
A
Makar
Paul
P
Van Royen
John-Paul
JP
Bogers
Filip
F
Lardon
Marc
M
Peeters
Marc
M
Baay
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult