2151-4658/asset/olbannerleft.gif?v=1&s=75d1dd4933b4687fdb365bb32190b0a4ef453ee7)
2151-4658/asset/olbannerright.gif?v=1&s=a36ba6af41bd9af370864f6461a516746a709d31)
Original Article
High risk of human papillomavirus type 16 infections and of development of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Article first published online: 30 APR 2007
DOI: 10.1002/art.22667
Copyright © 2007 by the American College of Rheumatology
1529-0131a/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=4b71f39689e424fbb0e6725b1c033cc646a4272b "Arthritis Care & Research")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Nath, R., Mant, C., Luxton, J., Hughes, G., Raju, K. S., Shepherd, P. and Cason, J. (2007), High risk of human papillomavirus type 16 infections and of development of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 57: 619–625. doi: 10.1002/art.22667
Publication History
- Issue published online: 30 APR 2007
- Article first published online: 30 APR 2007
- Manuscript Accepted: 18 SEP 2006
- Manuscript Received: 26 JAN 2006
Funded by
- Guy's and St Thomas' Charity
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus;
- Human papillomavirus infection;
- Cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions
Abstract
Objective
To determine rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, abnormal cervical smears, and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods
We investigated 30 women with SLE, 67 with abnormal smears from colposcopy clinics, and 15 community subjects with normal smears. Polymerase chain reaction results for viral DNA and HPV-16 sequencing data were correlated to cytology and colposcopic findings.
Results
SLE and colposcopy patients were more likely (P < 0.05) to be HPV positive (15 [54%] and 37 [67%] patients, respectively) and HPV-16 DNA positive (16 [57%] and 17 [31%] patients, respectively) than community subjects (0% HPV DNA positive and 1 [6%] HPV-16 DNA positive). SLE patients were also more likely to be HPV-16 DNA positive than colposcopy patients (P < 0.05). SLE patients with a high HPV-16 viral load more frequently had SIL (n = 6) than those with a low HPV-16 viral load (n = 1; P < 0.05). HPV and HPV-16 DNA positivity were not associated with previous or current drug therapy for SLE patients. All HPV-16 DNA sequences from 6 SLE and 5 colposcopy patients were the European-type variant. Eighteen (60%) SLE patients had a previous or current cervical abnormality. At the time of study, 5 (17%) SLE patients had an abnormal cervical smear and 8 (27%) had SIL. For those diagnosed with SLE for >10 years, the rate of SIL was 44% lower than those with SLE for <5 years (odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.1–3.5).
Conclusion
UK women with a recent SLE diagnosis had disturbingly elevated levels of HPV infections (particularly with European HPV-16 variants at a high viral load), abnormal cervical cytology, and SIL.