Recurrent Miscarriage and Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infection

PROBLEM: To investigate the possible relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and recurrent miscarriage (RM). METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, 49 women with unexplained RM (Group 1 - cases) and 475 women without any miscarriage and with at least one pregnancy at term (Group 2 - controls) were checked for cervical HPV infection through Hybrid Capture(®) II (HC 2) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: HPV+ DNA tests were detected in 13 (26.53%) RM women and in 294 (61.89%) control women (P < 0.001). The prevalence rate in HPV+DNA tests was significantly different in the 30-39 years age range. No differences between groups were detected in HPV types, nor in the cytological and histological findings. CONCLUSION: Women with RM have a lower prevalence of HPV+DNA tests than controls. This suggests that immune reactivity potentially leading to RM could be in some way protective against genital HPV infection.