Correlation of different HPV genotype viral loads and cervical lesions: A retrospective analysis of 1585 cases

BACKGROUND: To reduce unnecessary examinations and treatments, an effective detection method for differentiating human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive patients is urgently needed. This study aimed to explore the differences in HPV viral loads across various cervical lesions and identify the optimal cutoff value for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with varying degrees of cervical lesions admitted to a hospital between January 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024. The HPV genotype and viral load were determined using BioPerfectus multiplex real-time assay. The differences in HPV genotype viral loads among cervical lesion classifications were analyzed to identify the most applicable type of viral load. RESULTS: The viral loads of HPV16, HPV31, HPV33, HPV35, and HPV58 were significantly associated with the grade of cervical lesions (p < .05), with the HPV16 group exhibiting the strongest correlation (p < .01). The HPV16 viral load demonstrated good sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) for predicting HSIL (Se = 81.52%, Sp = 64.13%). The three most prevalent HPV genotypes associated with negative, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) and HSILs were HPV16, HPV52, and HPV58. HPV33 exhibited the highest prevalence of HSILs, followed by HPV16. CONCLUSIONS: High-risk HPV viral load is associated with cervical lesion classification. HPV16 viral load can effectively differentiate HSIL from LSIL with good Se and Sp.