Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study human papillomavirus type 16 in the aetiology of cervical carcinoma. DESIGN: Within a cohort of 18814 Finnish women followed up to 23 years a nested case-control study was conducted based on serological diagnosis of past infection with human papillomavirus type 16. SUBJECTS: 72 women (27 with invasive carcinoma and 45 with in situ carcinoma) and 143 matched controls were identified during the follow up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Relative risk of cervical carcinoma in presence of IgG antibodies to human papillomavirus type 16. RESULTS: After adjustment for smoking and for antibodies to various other agents of sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes simplex virus type 2 and Chlamydia trachomatis, the only significant association was with infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (odds ratio 12.5; 95% confidence interval 2.7 to 57, 2P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This prospective study provides epidemiological evidence that infection with human papillomavirus type 16 confers an excess risk for subsequent development of cervical carcinoma.