The epidemiology and interrelationship of cervical dysplasia and type 2 herpesvirus in a low-income housing project.

This report examines the association between cervical dysplasia and herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodies in a low-income housing project, Atlanta, Georgia. We established a clinic in this project at which women could receive a breast examination and Papanicolaou smear and have blood drawn to be tested for herpesvirus type 2 antibodies. Prevalence of herpesvirus rose sharply as age increased. There was a significant absence of antibodies in young, nulliparous women. Dysplasia showed a tendency to be related to age, age at first pregnancy, and total number of pregnancies. None of these associations was significant. The major finding of the study was that the 15- to 24-year-old women with herpesvirus had a relative risk of 5.44 of having cervical dysplasia compared to women without herpesvirus antibodies. these data are consistent with the concept that herpesvirus infections may be etiologically related to the initiation of cervical neoplasia. However, a cohort study is needed to determine whether herpes infection precedes or follows the earliest neoplastic changes.