No Increased Risk of Autoimmune Diseases Following HPV Vaccination: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination prevents anogenital warts, high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+), and cervical cancer.
• Adjuvants in HPV vaccines, such as toll-like receptor agonists, may theoretically increase autoimmune risk, but existing data are conflicting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze controlled post-licensure studies assessing the association between HPV vaccination and autoimmune disease onset.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed in Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library (inception to June 2024).
• PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024606834).
• Fourteen studies, including 8,088,838 patients (2,041,865 HPV vaccinated), were included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant association between HPV vaccination and the development of autoimmune diseases.
• The analyzed data encompassed a large cohort, providing robust evidence for the safety of HPV vaccination regarding autoimmune conditions.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence indicates that HPV vaccination is not associated with an increased risk of autoimmune disease development.
• Further large-scale observational studies are recommended, especially in male populations and for specific autoimmune disorders, to further refine the vaccine's safety profile.