[Cervix uteri and human papillomavirus infections. Current approach]

The incidence of genital warts among sexually active young people is growing, but the association of human papillomavirus with abnormal cervical smears is not clear. The development of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) may be expected within one year by one third of patients with histologically documented viral cytopathic effects. The presence of HPV infection in colposcopically normal cervical tissue both inside and outside the transformation zone may help to explain why current methods for treatment of cervical HPV infection are often unsuccessful. A significant proportion of the male population is infected in countries were HPV is an important factor in cervical carcinogenesis. Patients may be considered cured when cytology and colposcopy are found to be negative in two subsequent examinations. At the moment we simply do not know whether or not HPV causes cervical cancer. Perhaps shortly we will be able to write with greater certainty.