TREATMENT WITH TRICHLOROACETIC ACID OF CERVICAL LESIONS CAUSED BY HPV

Researchers at the Vienna Faculty of Medicine have discovered a new treatment to treat precancerous cervical lesions caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The treatment involves the use of 85 percent trichloroacetic acid, traditionally used for medical and cosmetic skin peeling. Scientists have shown complete remission achieved in 82 percent of patients after just one application. The new treatment is very easy to use by gynecologists and most importantly it is cost-effective.

The procedure is gentle and relatively simple, and the results are very promising. The current study shows that patients may be spared of stress during surgery and the increased risk of preterm birth. – Simonida Kotlarova-Poposka, d-r, MSc, gynecologist

PREVENTRION AND EARLY TREATMENT

Cervical Cancer – globally, is the fourth most common type of cancer. It is the most common cause of cancer death in women. Approximately 70 percent of all cases occur in developing countries. In underdeveloped countries, the most common cause of cancer deaths, and in developed countries, a widespread screening program significantly reduces the incidence of cancer. It occurs as a result of abnormal growth of cells in this part of the uterus, which acquire the ability to expand and invade. Early stages are usually asymptomatic. Symptoms appear later: abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pain and bleeding during intercourse.

Prevention and early detection are very important for this disease. Pap smears are inexpensive, easy to take and provide a lot of information about the condition of the cervix. HPV infection is thought to be involved in the development of more than 90 percent of cases of cervical cancer. This virus is proven by the help of HPV typing. There are low-risk (causing genital warts so-called condylomas) and high-risk HPVs (these are blamed for cervical cancer).

HPV infection can lead to a precancerous condition (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) and eventually to cervical cancer. In Europe, this affects 205,000 women a year, most of them in the 25 to 30 age group. However, many women who have HPV infection do not develop this type of cancer. Because mild forms can be treated spontaneously in many cases, no intervention is usually performed, but patients are carefully monitored to ensure that the condition is resolved. The treatment of cervical cancer consists of a combination of surgical methods, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The outcome usually depends on the stage at which the cancer is at the time it is discovered. Traditional treatment for serious precancerous cervical cancer consists of surgical procedure, a so-called cervical conization. A major problem occurs in women who have not given birth before because of a cervix shortening. It is a major side effect that leads to a significant increase in the rate of preterm delivery.

IMPRESSIVE OUTCOMES OF THE STUDY

The current study shows that it is possible to save patients from the stress of surgery and the increased risk of preterm birth by using a gentle and relatively simple procedure in which 85 percent trichloroacetic acid is coated on the affected area of ​​the cervix. Because of the fairly concentrated acid used, the smeared parts are broken. The few side effects consist of mild discomfort during the procedure and increased discharge that can last for about two weeks and are caused by a mucus that is broken after treatment. They compensate for the impressive outcome of the study: eight weeks after the procedure, 82 percent of all women treated were in full remission.

PROMISING RESULTS

The results are very promising, as the procedure can be performed very easily, very little training is required to perform the procedure, no special equipment or other operating infrastructure is required, and the acid itself is inexpensive. Studies show that the second treatment can increase the success rate to more than 90 percent.

Advantages of the technique:

-Cheap, fast, easy
-Does not require special equipment
-Does not require special education
-It gives neither negative consequences, nor pain
-It repeats

“Re-Medika” has treated a total of 142 patients so far. After treatment, they are advised not to have sexual intercourse for 1 week, then to have exclusively protected sexual intercourse, and to call for control HPV typing after 2 months. Unfortunately, of these 142 patients, only 67 came for HPV typing control smears. In fact, this is the biggest problem in our area – not showing patients or calling them late for a screening test to prove they have lost their cervical virus. The results so far show a loss of the virus in 78 percent of treated patients, and those with positive swabs have undergone a second acid treatment 4-6 months after the first. The reason for persistence of the virus is either decreased patient immunity or high virulence of the virus or unprotected intercourse after treatment until the emergence of a new typing.

This technique is a novelty in the treatment of high-risk HPV viruses and we are delighted with its success shown in our and international papers.

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