Detection of Human Papilloma Virus DNA in Seborrheic Keratosis of Korean Skin

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: DNA of epidermodysplasia verruciformis(EV)-associated human papillomaviruses (HPVs) has been detected in benign and malignant skin tumors and other proliferative diseases of epithelial origin. The objective of this study was to determine the association of EV-associated HPV DNA in nongenital seborrheic keratoses(SK) in Korean patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty biopsy specimens were collected from patients with nongenital SK and cutaneous SCC and controls. All tissue samples were examined by PCR. RESULTS: By polymerase chain reaction(PCR), EV-associated HPV DNA was detected in 15 of 40 nongenital SK(37.5%) compared with 1 of 40 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas(SCC) samples and 3 of 40 healthy controls. Detected viruses in SK included HPV 20(n=6), HPV 23 (n=2). The rest tested positive for HPV 5, 16, 17, 22, 25, 37, and RTRX4. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EV-associated HPV may be involved in the pathogenesis of nongenital SK of Asian skin.