Abstract
Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is of current interest in adolescents because of its link with malignant and premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of cervical HPV infection in adolescents and to characterize factors associated with HPV positivity. Subjects were recruited from an adolescent clinic in an urban teaching hospital. All sexually active females aged 13-21 who were to have a Pap smear were asked to participate. Specimens for HPV analysis were obtained by cervicovaginal (CV) saline lavage. DNA was extracted from cells and hybridized with radiolabeled HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 probes in a Southern blot experiment. For the first 69 participants in the study the mean age was 18.0 years; 48% were Black, 38% Hispanic and 14% White. The mean gynecologic age was 5.9 years and the mean number of years of sexual experience was 2.4. 26/69 (37.7%) had HPV present in the CV cells. There were no significant differences in any of the above characteristics when HPV(+) and HPV(-) patients were compared. Having two or more lifetime sexual partners resulted in more HPV infections than having only one partner (43% vs 28%, NS). 3/23 (13%) of those who were HPV positive and 2/42 (4.8%) of HPV negative patients had Pap smears that were suspicious or atypical. This study reveals a very high prevalence of HPV infection in adolescents which may in part reflect the more sensitive technique of CV lavage and suggests a need for surveillance of this at risk population.
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Rosenfeld, W., Vermund, S., Saed, S. et al. HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION OF THE CERVIX IN ADOLESCENTS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 177 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00066
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00066