Frequency of cervical hpv in women with COVID-19 infection

ABSTRACT

Aim: At the beginning of 2020, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged in China. While there are several studies currently being performed to investigate the multi-organ symptoms of COVID-19 infection, significant attention has yet to be paid to its presence in the cervix. This article aims to establish a medical hypothesis of its association with HPV infection as well as the potential impact of COVID-19 infection on the female genital tract. Material(s) and Method(s) This prospective cohort study was performed in ... Research and Training Hospital between January 1 and July 30, 2020. Cervicovaginal samples (co-test) were taken at the gynecological oncology unit, and both HPV screening and Pap smear were studied with the liquid-based method. Two groups of patients who were confirmed by PCR test to have had COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months and patients who did not have a history of infection were included in the study. Result(s) A total of 310 participants were evaluated in the study. Of these participants, 30 (9.7%) were confirmed to have undergone COVID-19 by PCR test. There was no significant difference between the total positive smear results in both groups. However, the rate of HPV-16 positive patients was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (2.5% vs 10.0%, p=0.027). Discussion(s) As a result, COVID-19 infection may increase the frequency of HPV-16. Apart from this, it can be said that this increase is not reflected in the frequency of cervical cytopathology.Copyright © 2022, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.