The Impact of Human Papillomavirus Infections on Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Review of the Literature
Dimitra Dedousi,
Anastasios Potiris,
Athanasios Zikopoulos,
Theodoros Karampitsakos,
Spyridon Topis,
Charikleia Skentou,
Angeliki Gerede,
Panagiotis Christopoulos,
Athanasios Zachariou,
Ekaterini Domali,
Peter Drakakis,
Sofoklis Stavros
Affiliations
Dimitra Dedousi
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Anastasios Potiris
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Athanasios Zikopoulos
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Theodoros Karampitsakos
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Spyridon Topis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Charikleia Skentou
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece
Angeliki Gerede
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, 691 00 Campus, Greece
Panagiotis Christopoulos
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Athanasios Zachariou
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Ioannina University, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece
Ekaterini Domali
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Peter Drakakis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Sofoklis Stavros
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are significantly associated with multiple adverse reproductive outcomes such as miscarriages. Pregnant women are more susceptible to an HPV infection and its prevalence increases as pregnancy progresses. In this present review, we summarize the existing evidence indicating the potential impact of an HPV infection on the occurrence of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Comprehensive research of the literature was performed in the Medline/PubMed and Scopus databases. A total of 185 articles were identified and 40 full-text articles were assessed. Four studies were eligible to be included in this literature review. To our knowledge, this is the first review aiming to summarize the current state of evidence regarding the possible association of HPV infections and RPL. Recurrent pregnancy loss constitutes a distressing reproductive event and scientific research has made significant efforts to determine the causes and mechanisms that could lead to RPL. It is still unclear whether the papillomavirus infection is associated with an increased risk for recurrent miscarriages. Research in the field revealed conflicting results and their deductions are limited by methodological limitations. Given the high prevalence of HPV infections and their potential role in the occurrence of adverse outcomes during pregnancy, further research is required to clarify the possibility of an HPV infection being a potential risk factor for recurrent miscarriages.
