Serologically diagnosed infection with human papillomavirus type 16 and risk for subsequent development of cervical carcinoma: nested case-control study.

OBJECTIVE

To study human papillomavirus type 16 in the aetiology of cervical carcinoma.

DESIGN

Within a cohort of 18814 Finnish women followed up to 23 years a nested case-control study was conducted based on serological diagnosis of past infection with human papillomavirus type 16.

SUBJECTS

72 women (27 with invasive carcinoma and 45 with in situ carcinoma) and 143 matched controls were identified during the follow up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Relative risk of cervical carcinoma in presence of IgG antibodies to human papillomavirus type 16.

RESULTS

After adjustment for smoking and for antibodies to various other agents of sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes simplex virus type 2 and Chlamydia trachomatis, the only significant association was with infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (odds ratio 12.5; 95% confidence interval 2.7 to 57, 2P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This prospective study provides epidemiological evidence that infection with human papillomavirus type 16 confers an excess risk for subsequent development of cervical carcinoma.