BMJ  2005;331:1204 (19 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7526.1204-b

Letter

Data are still needed for HPV immunisation programme

EDITOR—Finn questions the non-availability of human papillomavirus (HPV) type specific data for the United Kingdom.¹ We maintain that the data that are available for the UK on HPV type specific prevalence in the general population, in cervical cancer cases, and for precursor cases (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN), are limited at present. No true population-based data are available, and wide variations in overall and type-specific HPV prevalences have been reported among samples of women undergoing routine cytological screening.^2-4 Furthermore, UK rates of HPV infection may have increased since the study,⁴ cited by Finn, was conducted.⁵ Published UK data on HPV type specific prevalence in men, and on type specific HPV seroprevalence in men and women, are also not currently available.

Such data are needed for the modelling and cost effectiveness studies necessary to plan an HPV vaccination programme for the UK. Once the programme begins, pre-vaccination baseline data will be essential to monitor its impact, and to answer some of the questions discussed by Finn and ourselves.

Noel.Gill{at}hpa.org.uk HIV and STI Department, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London NW9 5EQ

HIV and STI Department, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London NW9 5EQ

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Competing interests: None declared.

References

1. Finn A. Details of HPV immunisation need not delay decision. BMJ 2005;331: 1081. (5 November.)[Free Full Text]
2. Cuschieri KS, Cubie HA, Whitley MW, Seagar AL, Arends MJ, Moore C, et al. Multiple high risk HPV infections are common in cervical neoplasia and young women in a cervical screening population. J Clin Pathol 2004;57: 68-72.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
3. Cuzick J, Szarewski A, Cubie H, Hulman G, Kitchener H, Luesley D, et al. Management of women who test positive for high-risk types of human papillomavirus: the HART study. Lancet 2003;362: 1871-6.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
4. Woodman CB, Collins S, Winter H, Bailey A, Ellis J, Prior P, et al. Natural history of cervical human papillomavirus infection in young women: a longitudinal cohort study. Lancet 2001;357: 1831-6.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
5. Kitchener H, Wheeler P, Desai M, Corbitt G, Roberts G, Maguire P, et al. The ARTISTIC trial—a randomised trial in screening to improve cytology (abstract 268). 21st International Papillomavirus Conference, Mexico City, 2004.

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Details of HPV immunisation need not delay decision

Adam Finn
BMJ 2005 331: 1081. [Extract] [Full Text]

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