title: High-risk human papillomavirus infection is associated with premature rupture of membranes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to be more prevalent in spontaneous abortions than in elective terminations of pregnancy. More recently, placental infection with HPV was shown to be associated with spontaneous preterm delivery. However, no study has evaluated the prevalence of HPV infection in pregnant Korean females and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 311 females who gave birth at Korea University Medical Center. Our sample included 45 preterm deliveries, 50 cases of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), 21 preeclampsia cases, and 8 gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients. We used the Hybrid Capture II system to detect high-risk (HR)-HPV infection at six weeks postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HR-HPV infection was 14.1%. Women with HR-HPV infection had a higher incidence of PROM than those without HR-HPV. HR-HPV infection was associated with an increased risk of PROM (OR, 2.380; 95% CI, 1.103-5.134). The prevalence of preterm delivery, preeclampsia, or GDM was not different between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a high prevalence of HR-HPV infection in pregnant women. Moreover, HR-HPV infection was associated with a risk of PROM at term. Further studies are needed to evaluate mechanisms by which HR-HPV infection induces PROM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea. mjohmd@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: GeumJoon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kyung-Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Hye-Ri
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: SuhngWook
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jae-Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: HaiJoong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology