title: Infezioni virali in ginecologia: un problema risolto?
abstract: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a dietary integrator containing methionine, zinc, Echinacea angustifolia and E. purpurea, probiotics, and antioxidant factors (Immuno Gin) in the treatment of mild cervical dysplasia associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The study sample was 95 women (age range, 31-55 years) resident in various cities in Italy. Initial Pap test results showed abnormal changes in cervical cells described as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and HPV infection in 23/95 women, 3 of which received the study product. Follow-up repeat Pap testing at 6 months returned normal test results in all 3. In 12 of the 20 women who did not receive treatment with the study product, the repeat Pap test at 6 months showed normal results, whereas persistence of lesions was observed in the other 8 women, with progression to low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in one case. Forty-five women presented initially with abnormal changes in cervical cells described as LSIL and HPV infection. Twenty received treatment with the study product; the repeat Pap test at 6 months showed normal results in 15 and no change in lesions in the other 5. Among the 25 women who did not receive treatment with the study product, the repeat Pap test at 6 months showed normal results in 13, whereas persistence of lesions was noted in the other 12, with progression to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion - moderate cervical intraepithelial lesion 2 (HSIL - CIN 2) in one case. Twenty-seven women with vulvoperineal condylomatosis received treatment with the study product, as described above, plus biophysical treatment of the lesions. At the 6-month follow-up assessment, no relapse of lesions occurred in 19, whereas relapse was noted in the other 8. Though the study sample is too small to draw statistically significant conclusions, the percentage of cases of lesion regression among the women treated with the study product was slightly higher than in those who did not receive treatment. Use of the study product may provide clinical benefit by stimulating immune defenses against HPV infection.
authors.affiliation: Liberi professionisti, Associazione Ginecologi Extra-Ospedalieri (A.G.E.O.), Italia - a.antonellaagnello@tin.it.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agnello
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ariviello
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bandieramonte
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peroni
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verdi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology / Q000175:diagnosis; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008715:Methionine