Isoantigen status in condyloma acuminata of the uterine cervix: an immunoperoxidase study

The immunoperoxidase technic was used to investigate the blood isoantigen status in condyloma acuminata, which is regarded as being caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Since HPV is associated with epithelial atypias and intra-epithelial neoplasia, and since epithelial malignant transformation is associated with isoantigen loss, the purpose of the study was to determine if koilocytotic atypias are associated with isoantigen loss. Complete isoantigen loss was seen in 33% of cases, partial loss in 47%, and retention in 20%. The significance of this study lies in being able to recognize those lesions that may be associated with malignant transformation (80%) as indicated by isoantigen loss. Isoantigen retention may identify those epithelial atypias that undergo spontaneous regression. Long range follow-up of such patients will help further elucidate the role of HPV in neoplastic transformation of condylomatous lesions. The immunoperoxidase technic can be used in retrospective studies of condylomata of the cervix.