IMPACT OF POST-LEEP NONAVALENT HPV VACCINATION ON FOLLOW-UP OUTCOMES: A SINGLE-CENTER RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Mesut Ali HALİSÇELİK, Süleyman Cemil OĞLAK, Erdal ŞEKER, Gülen YENER

Eastern Journal of Medicine (EJM) - 2026;31(4):696-706

Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Sciences University, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Türkiye

 

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of post-treatment administration of the nonavalent HPV vaccine on HPV clearance, cervical cytology outcomes, and HSIL recurrence during follow-up in women who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for HSIL (histological HSIL). This single-center retrospective cohort study included 200 women aged 18-65 years who underwent LEEP for histologically confirmed HSIL/CIN2-3 between 2020 and 2025 and had no prior HPV vaccination. Participants were grouped according to post-LEEP vaccination status: those who received the three-dose nonavalent HPV vaccine at 0, 2, and 6 months after LEEP (n=100) and unvaccinated controls (n=100). Co-testing was performed at 6 and 18 months, with colposcopy conducted as indicated per 2019 ASCCP guidelines. There were no statistically meaningful differences between groups regarding HPV genotype distribution, or cytology findings. At 6 months, HPV negativity (70% vs. 77%; p = 0.262) and cytology negativity (73% vs. 76%; p = 0.626) rates were comparable between unvaccinated and vaccinated groups. At 18 months, the vaccinated group showed significantly higher HPV (91% vs. 81%; p = 0.042) and cytology negativity rates (93% vs. 81%; p = 0.012). HSIL rates were numerically lower in vaccinated patients at both follow-ups but did not reach statistical significance. Multivariate analysis showed HPV vaccination was independently associated with reduced 18-month HPV (OR = 0.42) and cytology positivity (OR = 0.32). Post-LEEP nonavalent HPV vaccination was not associated with early follow-up differences but was independently linked to improved mid-term HPV clearance and cytologic outcomes.