The association we found between
HPV and preeclampsia is consistent with the prior evidence of similar associations
with other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
In a study of first trimester pregnancy
losses, HPV 16 DNA was isolated from
products of conception 60% after spontaneous
abortions compared with 20%
after elective termination.5 Moreover, a
case control study showed higher rate
of isolation of HPV type 6, 11, 16, or 18
from placentas of women with spontaneous
preterm labor before 37 weeks’
gestation compared with women with
labor after 37 weeks. The same study,
however, showed similar detection of
HR-HPV from placentas of women with
preterm severe preeclampsia and controls.6
The lack of association in this
latter study with preeclampsia is in
contrast with our study. As HPV is a
transient infection, it is theoretically
possible that infection early in pregnancy
could alter placental vascular architecture
and ultimately result in preeclampsia,
but then no longer be detectable
in the placenta at the time of delivery.
HPV infection may also affect uteroplacental
function even if it is limited to
the uterine decidua