Changes in cervical cytokine profiles following focused ultrasound treatment for high‐risk human papillomavirus infection–related low‐grade cervical lesions

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of cervical soluble immune markers after focused ultrasound (FU) treatment to explore the underlying local immune effects of FU in the treatment of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection-related low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). METHODS: A total of 35 patients diagnosed with HR-HPV infection-related histological LSIL who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this prospective study and treated with FU. The authors used cytometric bead array to measure T-helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine (interleukin [IL] 2, tumor necrosis factor, and interferon γ) and Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10) levels in the cervicovaginal lavage of patients before and 3 months after FU treatment. RESULTS: After FU treatment, the concentrations of Th2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-6 were significantly lower than those before FU treatment (P = 0.044 and P = 0.028, respectively). HR-HPV infection was cleared in 27 patients, with a clearance rate of 77.1% (27 of 35). The concentration of IL-4 in patients with HR-HPV clearance after FU treatment was significantly lower than that in patients without HR-HPV clearance (P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: FU can inhibit the production of certain Th2 cytokines and may improve the local immune status of the cervix, thereby eliminating HR-HPV infection.