Detection of some types of human papillomaviruses in skin tags

ABSTRACT

Human papilloma virus [HPV] DNA of types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 52b and 58 was searched by polymerase chain reaction in skin tag biopsies, mononuclear cells, sera and normal skin of 28 patients with multiple skin tags and in 10 normal subjects. Histopathological examination of skin biopsies was done. Fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol and triglycerides were determined in patients and controls. The results showed that 96% of the patients had HPV DNA in their skin tags, 71% had HPV types 6 and 11 and 25% had HPV types 16 and 18, in addition to type 6 and 11. The histopathological examination revealed an increasing epithelial hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis and increasing epidermal cells with perinuclear membrane irregularities in 25% of the cases with mixed viral infections. Only HPV DNA of types 6 and 11 was detected in mononuclear cells of the patients and in their sera