Sun exposure linked to higher risk of cervical HPV infection; possible immunosuppression.(Women's Health)(human papillomavirus)

ORLANDO, FLA. -- A high level of sun exposure was associated with an increased rate of cervical infection with human papillomavirus, Dr. William J.M. Hrushesky reported at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

He and his associates reviewed the results of more than 900,000 cervical Pap smears that were collected during 1983-1998 from women in the Netherlands by the Leiden Cytology and Pathology Laboratory. These specimens were considered to be positive for active infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) if they contained koilocytic epithelial cells and multinucleate cells.

The monthly distribution of specimens positive for HPV was …