The prognostic significance of acetowhitening of the vulva and HPV-DNA test. A multicentre study

Cancer Lett. 2001 Oct 30;172(2):133-5. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(01)00643-7.

Abstract

Acetowhitening of the vulva has been related to a subclinical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. No consense has been reached about undertaking -or not- any therapy for these acetowhite changes. We have observed from our clinical experience and in a 10 years observational follow-up, that acetowhitening of the vulva regarding high risk (16-18) and low risk (6-11) HPV groups (as assessed by PCR analysis) significantly decreased; and acetowhitening areas negative to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), significantly increased from 53% (202/382) to 85% (276/325) (P<0.001). Our findings suggest that independently from HPV type and in the absence of cofactors, there is a statistically significant spontaneous remission of these areas.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Colposcopy
  • Contraception
  • DNA, Viral / analysis*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Vulva / pathology*
  • Vulva / virology*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral