HPV Virus Medical - Pictures

Heley S. Victorian Cytology Service, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Victoria. sheley@mshc.org.au

BACKGROUND: Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. In the first 10 years of sexual activity, point prevalence rates approach 25% and the lifetime risk of acquisition of this infection may be as high as 80%. There are over 200 types of HPV, of which approximately 50 infect the genital area. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to discuss HPV detection and its role in cervical cancer development. DISCUSSION: The HPV types that cause genital warts do not cause cervical cancer. The subclinical types (especially types 16 and 18) are most frequently found in high grade epithelial abnormalities and therefore can potentially cause anogenital cancers. Human papillomavirus is a 'necessary but not sufficient cause for cervical cancer'. Most genital HPV infection is transient. Cervical cancer is actually a rare outcome of HPV infection. However, only 5% of women in developing countries have had a Pap smear in the past five years, and worldwide approximately 250 thousand women die of this disease every year. The role of HPV DNA testing has not yet been defined, but is no doubt a potential tool for the future. Meanwhile, international vaccine trials using HPV virus-like particles are taking place, and look promising.

Publication Types:
• Review
• Review, Tutorial

Papathanasiou K, Giannoulis C, Vaitsi V, Kalahanis J. 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of cervical infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cervical Papanicolaou tests, colposcopy and biopsies were performed in 21 HIV seropositive women. RESULTS: Four patients (19%) had an abnormal smear test, one had CIN-II (4.7%) and three had cervical warts (14.2%).

Rev Argent Microbiol. 2003 Apr-Jun;35(2):74-9.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in cervical infections among woman in La Plata, Argentina

HPV Virus Medical - Pictures - Article in Spanish

Genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted viral diseases. High risk HPV are now considered the main etiologic agent of cancer of the uterine cervix and their high-grade precursor lesions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the endemic HPV-genotype spectrum in a population of women from the city of La Plata, Argentina. With this purpose, 718 cervical scrapes or biopsies corresponding to 152 normal samples (Pap I/II), 84 samples classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 100 condyloma, 279 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL), 82 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL), and 21 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were studied. The detection of HPV-DNA was performed by nested polymerase chain reaction, using My 09/11 and Gp 05/06. The viral genotypes were analyzed by single-stranded conformation polymorphisms, employing low ionic strength solution (LIS-SSCP). The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 75% in the analyzed population, with a frequency of 46% for normal cervix, 69% for ASCUS, 86% for condyloma, 80% for LGSIL, 98% for HGSIL and 100% for SCC. The most prevalent viral types were HPV 16 (35%), followed by HPV 6/11 (27% each one), HPV 33 (6%) and HPV 18 (5%). HPV 16 was the most prevalent viral type among women with LGSIL, HGSIL and SCC, representing 33%, 50% and 67% of the genital infections, respectively. HPV 6 and 11 were the most frequent viral types among samples classified as Pap I/II, ASCUS and condyloma. Women between 21 and 30 year old showed the highest prevalence of HPV positivity, compraising the 32.2% of total infections.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl). 2003 Aug;192(3):123-8. Epub 2003 Jan 18.

Human papillomavirus infections and oral tumors.

Syrjanen S. Department of Oral Pathology and Radiology, Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland. stina.syrjanen@utu.fi

In the past 20 years, there has been an increasing interest in human papillomaviruses (HPV) because of their potential role in the pathogenesis of malignant tumors. In 1983, we published the first evidence that HPV might be involved in oral squamous cell carcinomas. The identification of morphological similarities between oral and cervical mucosa lead us to this original proposal. In a recent meta-analysis, HPV was indeed confirmed as an independent risk factor for oral carcinoma. To date, totally more than 100 types of HPV have been identified. As in anogenital cancers, HPV type 16 is the most prevalent type in oral carcinomas. The benign oral lesions, associated with HPV infection, include squamous cell papilloma, condyloma acuminatum, verrucca vulgaris and focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH). Papillomas and condylomas are mostly caused by HPV type 6 or 11, while oral verrucas are associated with the skin types 2 or 4. A family history of FEH has been suggested. The FEH lesions are caused by HPV types 13 and 32, only detected in oral epithelium. In immunocompromised patients, benign HPV-induced lesions are characterized by atypical morphology and the simultaneous detection of multiple HPV types. Oral benign HPV lesions are mostly asymptomatic, and may persist or regress spontaneously.

Publication Types:
• Review
• Review, Tutorial

HPV Virus Medical - HPV Infections Links

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Visit Genital HPV Infection Fact Sheet.

NIAID HPV Fact Sheet -This site answers questions concerning HPV-related genital disorders.