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Cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are at high risk of neoplastic progression if they persist. Persistence can be measured by repeated HPV DNA tests or by cytologic testing. Thus, it is useful to understand the relationship between these 2 measurements. To explore the relative timing of HPV DNA clearance versus cytologic regression, data were analyzed from 840 study participants who were followed-up by repeat thin-layer cytology and HPV testing by a hybrid capture test at 6-month intervals for 2 years. On average, HPV DNA detection persisted longer than related cytologic abnormalities (P

Detection of DNA from human papillomaviruses (HPV) of high and intermediate oncogenic risk in cervical smears may predict the presence of cervical cancer or may indicate precancerous changes. Here we describe a semiautomated polymerase chain reaction system for the detection and classification of HPV DNA that is present in clinically significant amounts in routine cervical scrapes.

Foreskins from 70 unselected infants undergoing routine circumcision were analyzed by dot blot hybridization for the presence of DNA related to that of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 6, 11, 16, or 18. Three foreskins (4^o) contained HPV DNA; two contained DNA related to HPV-16, and one contained DNA related to HPV-6. These results suggest that neonates exhibit evidence of a relatively high incidence of exposure to HPV. The outcome of exposure may be initially asymptomatic. A retrospective study of maternal charts showed six mothers with abnormal Pap smears, but no correlation could be identified between these mothers and the HPV-positive foreskins.