Seroreactivity to human papillomavirus type 16 virus-like particles is lower in high-risk men than in high-risk women

J Infect Dis. 1997 Oct;176(4):876-83. doi: 10.1086/516505.

Abstract

Seroreactivity to human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) virus-like particles (VLPs) in men attending clinics for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Denmark (n = 219) and Greenland (n = 88) was compared with seroreactivity in women attending the same clinics and was furthermore related to epidemiologic variables and concurrent HPV DNA detection. Risk factors for male seropositivity in Denmark were lifetime number of sex partners, a history of STDs, and sexual preference and in Greenland were ever having had syphilis and years at school. Although men reported significantly more sex partners, the mean seroreactivity was significantly lower in men than in women: 0.50 and 0.75, respectively, in Denmark and 0.53 and 0.86 in Greenland (P = .0001). Male seropositivity was not correlated with concurrent HPV DNA detection, but only 15 Danish and 6 Greenlandic men had HPV-16 DNA. Presence of HPV-16 VLP antibodies appears to be a biomarker for exposure to genital HPVs in men but is less sensitive than in women.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Greenland / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics
  • Papillomaviridae / immunology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / immunology
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexual Partners
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / diagnosis
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
  • Syphilis / diagnosis
  • Syphilis / epidemiology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA, Viral