Investigation of the presence of cervical human papillomavirus and the distribution of preinvasive lesions in patients using immunomodulators-Inosine Pranobex.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus treatment is known to benefit from humoral and cellular immunity. It has been demonstrated that the immunomodulatory drug Inosine Pranobex (IP) increases T-cell proliferation, the number and function of natural killer cells, and the levels of T helper 1-type cytokines, including IL-2 and IFN-γ. The objective was to assess the efficacy of Inosine Pranobex in clearing HPV and precancerous lesions, as well as its effectiveness in regressing precancerous lesions. METHODS: A total of 624 patients with HPV positivity and/or cervical precancerous lesions who presented to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine between 2022 and 2025 were evaluated. Two groups were formed: patients using it and those not using it. For patients enrolled in a given year, the results obtained in the subsequent year were considered the one-year follow-up outcomes. One-year follow-up results were analyzed. RESULTS: HPV clearance rate was significantly higher in the Inosine Pranobex group compared to the control group (68.1% vs. 39.6%, p = 0.001). Viral clearance rates were significantly higher in the IP group, particularly for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, including HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 45. Similarly, IP treatment significantly increased HPV clearance in smokers. Regression rates of cervical lesions were higher in the Inosine Pranobex group, particularly in low-grade lesions, although the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Inosine Pranobex reduces viral load and contributes to the regression of cervical lesions thanks to its antiviral and immunomodulatory effects in HPV infections. In clinical studies, a significant increase in viral clearance rates was observed during treatment. These findings indicate that the drug can be used as a complementary treatment in HPV-related pathologies. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.