High-risk human papillomavirus in Turkish patients with clinically suspicious cervical lesions analyzed by multiplex-PCR

Background & objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is known to be the main cause of cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of high-risk HPV genotypes in smear specimens taken from women who had normal or abnormal cytology using a multiplex PCR method. Methods: The study included 270 women aged between 19 and 69 yr with or without suspicious cervical abnormalities. A Pap smear sample from each patient was cytologically examined, and HPV typing was performed using a multiplex fluorescent PCR method. Those who were high-risk HPV positive and had a normal or abnormal cytology were further evaluated by colposcopy and biopsy. Results: The total HPV positivity was 43 per cent (116/270). HPV positivity in the patients with an abnormal cytology was 77 per cent (33/43), whereas it was only 37 per cent (83/227) in women with normal cytology, which showed a significant difference (P<0.05). HPV positivity was also related to the age group when all the subjects were considered (P<0.05), and the highest prevalence of HPV infection was in the 30-39 yr age group. High-risk HPV types 16, 18, 31, 35, 51 and 56 were more common in the normal cytology patients, whereas high-risk HPV types 16, 31, 35, 45, 58 and 68 were commonly found in the abnormal cytology patients. Interpretation & conclusions: The determination of high-risk HPV genotypes in women with clinically suspicious cervical lesions should be conducted during an annual follow-up, irrespective of a normal or abnormal cytology by the age of 30 years or above.

Prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology and HPV DNA positivity among HIV positive women

Background: The relationship among HIV, HPV, and development of CIN is complex and incompletely understood. Present study is undertaken to find out the prevalence and relationship of abnormal cervical cytology and HPV infection in HIV positive women.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, case control study conducted on 95 HIV seropositive and 95 seronegative women. Specimen was collected from the cervix for HPV DNA testing, subtyping and cytology.Results: HPV DNA positivity was higher in seropositive group (18.6% vs. 7.4%). Premalignant conditions were found only in seropositive group. At CD4 count <249 HPV DNA positivity was 53%, at 250-499 the percentage of HPV DNA positivity was 31% and at >500 HPV DNA positivity was 19%.Conclusions: Prevalence of abnormal cytology and HPV DNA positivity is higher amongst HIV positive women and there is an association between HPV DNA positivity with lower CD4 counts.