HiPPY Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cervical screening and Human Papilloma Virus testing in young women with perinatally acquired HIV (HiPPY Study)
IRAS ID
264678
Contact name
Tamara Elliott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cervical cancer is caused by infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). In the UK, cervical cancer screening is offered 3-yearly from the age of 25 and HPV vaccination has been offered to all young girls since 2008. From the end of 2019, the UK is introducing HPV testing instead of cervical smears as the primary screening method.
Women living with HIV have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer and are therefore offered cervical screening every year. Amongst women who have grown up with HIV since birth (perinatally acquired HIV, PaHIV), there may be a higher risk of cervical changes earlier due to lifelong impaired immune function, likelihood of HPV from birth, and the possibility of reduced responses to HPV vaccines. For this reason, the HIV in Young People Network (HYPNet) recommends cervical screening should start within a year of a woman with PaHIV becoming sexually active regardless of age, but this is not included in UK guidelines due to a lack of data. Outside of a research study any samples sent for routine assessment in any women younger than 25 years are discarded.
We aim to explore the prevalence of HPV infection and cervical changes, and look at antibody responses to the HPV vaccine amongst a group of young women with PaHIV. The findings of this study will help inform the cervical screening recommendations for young women living with PaHIV.
In this cross-sectional, observational study, young women 18 years or older with PaHIV will be recruited from a specialist HIV service at St Marys Hospital, London. Eligible and consenting women will have a cervical sample taken for cytology and HPV testing, and a blood test for HPV serology. If any abnormality is identified that requires further investigation or management, the woman will be referred to our gynaecology service.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1307
Date of REC Opinion
23 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion