HPV-associated genital diseases: current diagnosis and treatment options

Abstract

Optimizing the management of patients with HPV-associated cervical diseases remains a priority for the modern studies on this issue. The human papillomavirus is divided into two types: high-risk and low-risk types according to its malignant potential to cause cervical cancer and some other oncological diseases. Human papillomavirus can clear spontaneously in 85-90% cases, but the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical cancer is quite high in persistent high-risk oncogenic infection. The virus presence in the body tissues cannot be considered as a marker for progression or regression of the pathological process in the strict sense, even though cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer develop in HPV-positive patients in the vast majority of cases. These studies are aimed at searching for the new and improving existing methods for early diagnosis of precancerous diseases and cervical cancer. The development of the HPV-associated pathological process is known to be dependent on the human immune system status. The virus provokes a cellular immune response, which is expressed as changes in interferon status, cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells, methylation processes, etc. The use of a holistic approach to treatment, a comdoibination of traditional therapy, antigen-specific vaccination and administration of immunomodulating agents seems relevant for patients with persistent high-risk oncogenic papilloma virus, as well as precancerous diseases and cervical cancer. The use of immunomodulators in the complex treatment of virus-associated diseases contributes to relief of symptoms and reduction of the recurrence rate.