Significance of the Viral Load of High-risk Hpv in the Diagnosis and Prediction of Cervical Lesions: A Retrospective Study

Background: The significance of HPV viral load in the detection of cervical lesions is still controversial. This study analyzed the correlation between the high-risk (HR)-HPV viral load and different cervical lesion degrees. Methods: : This was a retrospective study of the patients who first visited the hospital between January 2015 and June 2018. Patients with positive HR-HPV were screening for cervical cancer. The HR-HPV DNA load was measured by the second generation hybrid capture (HC2) technology. The patients grouped as normal, CIN I, CIN II, CIN III, and cervical cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to explore the association between HR-HPV DNA load and cervical lesions. Results: : Finally, 265 patients were grouped as normal (n=125), CIN I (n=51), CIN II (n=23), CIN III (n=46), and cervical cancer (n=20). Among them, 139 (52.5%) had a low viral load, 90 (34.0) had a moderate viral load, and 36 (13.4%) had a high viral load. Taking the normal control group as a reference, a high viral load was an independent factor for CIN I (CIN I: OR=3.959, 95%CI: 1.300-12.059, P=0.015) CIN II (OR=6.211, 95%CI: 1.641-23.513, P=0.007), CIN III (OR=7.002, 95%CI: 2.308-21.244, P=0.001), and cervical cancer (OR=9.439, 95%CI: 2.394-37.22, P=0.001). Conclusion: Cervical lesions are closely related to HR-HPV infection. Higher HR-HPV viral load in cervical lesions was associated with a higher risk of high-grade cervical lesions.