[HPV infection: comparison between morphological studies and molecular biology]

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Oncology
• Virology

Background:

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a key factor in cervical cancer development.
• Understanding HPV prevalence is crucial for effective cervical cancer screening and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in women undergoing gynecological examinations.
• To compare HPV prevalence with existing literature and analyze the distribution of specific HPV types.
• To evaluate the utility of HPV-DNA testing as a primary screening method in conjunction with cytology.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 699 women for gynecological controls and 90 women selected for HPV-related clinical aspects.
• Data collection occurred between September 2005 and March 2007.
• Analysis included HPV-DNA testing, cytology, and comparison with clinical data.

Main Results:

• Observed HPV prevalence was 27.4%, exceeding previously reported figures.
• HPV type 16 was the most frequent, with HPV type 18 less common than other types (39, 52, 56, 58, 59).
• High HPV-DNA detection rates were noted in women with negative cytology or inflammatory changes.

Conclusions:

• The high prevalence of HPV-DNA, even in women with normal cytology, challenges its cost-effectiveness as a standalone primary screening test.
• Lack of standardized reporting hinders objective comparisons between diagnostic methods (cytology, colposcopy, molecular biology).
• A centralized data collection and analysis center is needed for consistent reporting and method comparison.