{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T16:13:49Z","timestamp":1789143229959,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"BioExcel","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789344000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04jfxq686","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["DIC"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infections with normal or low-grade cervical cytology are generally managed through observation because many infections clear spontaneously. However, persistent infection, particularly in women over 35 years of age, may increase the risk of progression and lead to prolonged surveillance, repeated examinations and patient anxiety. This study evaluates the effectiveness of local treatment with carboxymethyl \u03b2-glucan and polycarbophil (Colpofix\u00ae) in achieving negativization of high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) in a Spanish population of women with HR-HPV positivity. Methods: This prospective, non-randomized controlled, multi-centre study enrolled 533 women aged 25\u201365 with HR-HPV and normal cytology, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Conducted in real clinical settings, it involved a 3-month treatment or \u2018wait-and-see\u2019 approach, with final follow-up at 6 months. Statistical analysis included various tests such as the Mann\u2013 Whitney test, Fisher\u2019s exact test and Pearson\u2019s \u03c72 test. Results: At 6 months, HR-HPV negativity was observed in 50.1% of treated patients compared with 24.0% in the observation group (p&lt;0.0001). Higher clearance rates were recorded across all HR-HPV genotypes. For HPV16, negativization occurred in 50.7% of treated patients versus 9.2% of controls (p=0.0291). Resolution of cervical ectopy was more frequent in the treatment group (42.6% versus 11.5%, p&lt;0.0001). No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Local treatment with carboxymethyl \u03b2-glucan and polycarbophil was associated with higher rates of HR-HPV negativization and ectopy resolution compared with observation alone at 6-month follow-up, supporting its use as a management option, particularly in women over 35 years of age.\n\nDownload the Plain Language Summary of this article: https:\/\/www.drugsincontext.com\/plain-language-summaries\/plain-language-summary-local-carboxymethyl-\u03b2-glucan-and-polycarbophil-in-women-positive-for-human-papillomavirus-a-prospective-observational-study<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.7573\/dic.2026-5-1","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T15:47:13Z","timestamp":1789141633000},"page":"1","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Local carboxymethyl \u03b2-glucan and polycarbophil in women positive for human papillomavirus: a prospective observational study"],"prefix":"10.7573","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4231-4660","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carmen Pingarr\u00f3n","family":"Santofimia","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04dp46240","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Universidad Europea de Madrid"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ysmael","family":"\u00c1lvarez Espinosa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Quir\u00f3n Donostia, Donostia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0986-5062","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan Jos\u00e9","family":"Hern\u00e1ndez Aguado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05nfzf209","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana Isabel","family":"L\u00f3pez Castej\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01ynvwr63","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"HM Hospitales"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Soledad","family":"Mart\u00ednez Garc\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/045wa9418","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Sanitas CIMA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carlos","family":"Blanco-Soler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospiten Roca, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1091-8897","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina","family":"del Valle Rubido","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/050eq1942","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Universitario Ram\u00f3n y Cajal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria del Pilar","family":"Robles Ruiz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/005a3p084","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Universitario Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de Candelaria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Janet","family":"Abanto Alvarez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04v1ay816","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Universitario San Rafael"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria del Carmen","family":"Chicharro Cassuso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Privada Dra. M\u00aa Carmen Chicharro Cassuso, Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amira","family":"Alkourdi Martinez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02f01mz90","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Monica","family":"de Vera Gomis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/04nneby83","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Marina Baixa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Silvia","family":"Tamarit Bordes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03971n288","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"Rubert Torro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital General Universitario de Castell\u00f3n, Castell\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Caterina","family":"Cort\u00e9s Alaguero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital de la Plana, Castell\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9558-9310","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irene","family":"Vela Sampedro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00f6kbf47","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Hospital Universitari Sant Joan D'Alacant"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manuel David","family":"Menor Almagro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cl\u00ednica Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de la Salud, C\u00e1diz, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefanie","family":"Redon Fitzl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gynaikos, Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"Lopez Prada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital HM Universitarios Torrelodones, Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Montserrat","family":"Albarr\u00e1n G\u00f3mez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Art Medical, Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"10047","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"1.\tBoldeanu L, Assani MZ, Boldeanu MV, et al. Cervical cancer in the era of HPV: translating molecular mechanisms into preventive public health action. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(17):8463. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms26178463","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26178463"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"2.\tChan CK, Aimagambetova G, Ukybassova T, et al. Human papillomavirus infection and cervical cancer: epidemiology, screening, and vaccination-review of current perspectives. J Oncol. 2019;2019:3257939. https:\/\/doi.org\/ 10.1155\/2019\/3257939","DOI":"10.1155\/2019\/3257939"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"3.\tGustafson LW, Krog L, Sardini B, et al. High rate of persistent HPV detection after diagnostic cervical excision in older screen-positive women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025;104(2):342\u2013349. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/aogs.15019","DOI":"10.1111\/aogs.15019"},{"key":"ref3","unstructured":"4.\tWorld Health Organization. WHO guidelines for screening and treatment of precancerous lesions for cervical cancer prevention. 2021. https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789240030824. Accessed August 6, 2026."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"5.\tWang J, Tian Z, Wang J. Risk factors for persistent infection of high-risk HPV in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Am J Transl Res. 2025;17(4):2992\u20133000. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.62347\/ggvr2248","DOI":"10.62347\/GGVR2248"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"6.\tGarganese G, Inzani F, Fragomeni SM, et al. The vulvar immunohistochemical panel (VIP) project: molecular profiles of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma. Cancers 2021;13(24):6373. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/cancers13246373","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers13246373"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"7.\tAguilar-Linares G, M\u00e1rquez-Serrano M, Meneses-Navarro S, et al. Barriers and facilitators for adherence to follow-up by HR-HPV-positive women with premalignant cervical lesions: a mixed-design study in Mexico. BMC Womens Health 2024;24(1):550. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12905-024-03379-3","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-024-03379-3"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"8.\tAker S, A\u011far E, Tinelli A, et al. The impact of HPV diagnosis and abnormal cervical cytology results on sexual dysfunction and anxiety. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(4):3630. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph20043630","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20043630"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"9.\tAarnio R, Wikstr\u00f6m I, Gustavsson I, et al. Diagnostic excision of the cervix in women over 40 years with human papilloma virus persistency and normal cytology. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X. 2019;3:100042. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/ j.eurox.2019.100042","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurox.2019.100042"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"10.\tTsige AW, Beyene DA. Cervical cancer: challenges and prevention strategies: a narrative review. Health Sci Rep. 2024;7(6):e2149. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/hsr2.2149","DOI":"10.1002\/hsr2.2149"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"11.\tKhamjan NA, Beigh S, Algaissi A, et al. Natural and synthetic drugs and formulations for intravaginal HPV clearance. J Infect Public Health. 2023;16(9):1471\u20131480. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jiph.2023.06.016","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiph.2023.06.016"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"12.\tLavitola G, Della Corte L, De Rosa N, et al. Effects on vaginal microbiota restoration and cervical epithelialization in positive HPV patients undergoing vaginal treatment with carboxy-methyl-beta-glucan. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:5476389. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2020\/5476389","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/5476389"},{"key":"ref12","unstructured":"13.\tLaccetta G, Carrone A, Burratti M, et al. Effect of the treatment with \u03b2-glucan in women with cervical cytologic report of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (L-SIL). Minerva Ginecol. 2015;67(2):113\u2013120."},{"key":"ref13","unstructured":"14.\tScardamaglia P, Carraro C, Mancino P, et al. [Effectiveness of the treatment with beta-glucan in the HPV-CIN 1 lesions]. Minerva Ginecol. 2010;62(5):389\u2013393."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"15.\tStentella P, Biamonti A, Carraro C, et al. Efficacy of carboxymethyl beta-glucan in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a retrospective, case-control study. Minerva Ginecol. 2017;69(5):425\u2013430. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.23736\/s0026-4784.17.04053-9","DOI":"10.23736\/S0026-4784.17.04053-9"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"16.\tLi W, Meng Y, Wang Y, et al. Association of age and viral factors with high-risk HPV persistence: a retrospective follow-up study. Gynecol Oncol. 2019;154(2):345\u2013353. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ygyno.2019.05.026","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ygyno.2019.05.026"},{"key":"ref16","unstructured":"17.\tMzarico E, G\u00f3mez-Roig MD, Guirado L, et al. Relationship between smoking, HPV infection, and risk of cervical cancer. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2015;36(6):677\u2013680."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"18.\tMaggino T, Casadei D, Panontin E, et al. Impact of an HPV diagnosis on the quality of life in young women. Gynecol Oncol. 2007;107(Suppl. 1):S175\u2013S179. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ygyno.2007.07.013","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ygyno.2007.07.013"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"19.\tJohnson CY, Sharp L, Cotton SC, et al. Human papillomavirus infection and anxiety: analyses in women with low-grade cervical cytological abnormalities unaware of their infection status. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(6):e21046. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/ journal.pone.0021046","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0021046"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"20.\tMcBride E, Marlow LAV, Forster AS, et al. Anxiety and distress following receipt of results from routine HPV primary testing in cervical screening: the psychological impact of primary screening (PIPS) study. Int J Cancer. 2020;146(8):2113\u20132121. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ijc.32540","DOI":"10.1002\/ijc.32540"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"21.\tSkinner SR, Wheeler CM, Romanowski B, et al. Progression of HPV infection to detectable cervical lesions or clearance in adult women: analysis of the control arm of the VIVIANE study. Int J Cancer. 2016;138(10):2428\u20132438. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ijc.29971","DOI":"10.1002\/ijc.29971"},{"key":"ref21","unstructured":"22.\tWorld Health Organization. Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. 2020. https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789240014107. Accessed August 6, 2026."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"23.\tGaleshi M, Shirafkan H, Yazdani S, et al. Challenges and needs of HPV-positive women. Inquiry. 2023;60:469580221150094. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/00469580221150094","DOI":"10.1177\/00469580221150094"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"24.\tPalumbo M, Lavitola G, Di Filippo C, et al. Impact of human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine on viral clearance after surgical treatment: a single-center retrospective observational study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025;310:113994. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2025.113994","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejogrb.2025.113994"}],"container-title":["Drugs in Context"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.drugsincontext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/dic.2026-5-1.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T15:47:34Z","timestamp":1789141654000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.drugsincontext.com\/local-carboxymethyl-\u03b2-glucan-and-polycarbophil-in-women-positive-for-human-papillomavirus-a-prospective-observational-study"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]]},"references-count":24,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7573\/dic.2026-5-1","relation":{},"ISSN":["1740-4398","1740-4398"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1740-4398","type":"print"},{"value":"1740-4398","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]]},"article-number":"dic.2026-5-1"}}