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[Human papillomavirus, neonatal giant cell hepatitis and biliary duct atresia]
1Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital de Niños Sor María Ludovica, La Plata.
Insights
Human papillomavirus DNA (HPV-DNA) was detected in infants with idiopathic neonatal giant cell hepatitis and extrahepatic biliary duct atresia. Findings suggest vertical transmission from mothers to infants.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Hepatology
- Pediatric Pathology
Context:
- Idiopathic neonatal giant cell hepatitis (INGCH) and extrahepatic biliary duct atresia (EBDA) are serious neonatal liver conditions.
- Previous studies identified human papillomavirus DNA (HPV-DNA) in archived liver tissues of infants with INGCH and EBDA.
- The potential for vertical transmission of HPV in these conditions remained unexplored.
Purpose:
- To investigate the possibility of vertical transmission of HPV from mothers to infants diagnosed with INGCH or EBDA.
- To detect HPV-DNA in maternal cervical swabs and infant hepatic tissues using nested-PCR.
- To compare HPV types found in mothers and infants.
Summary:
- HPV-DNA was investigated in cervical swabs from mothers and hepatic tissues from infants with INGCH (3 cases) and EBDA (4 cases).
- Nested-PCR detected HPV-DNA in all tested infant liver samples and corresponding maternal cervical swabs.
- Cervical smears revealed koilocytosis, indicative of HPV infection, in two mothers. HPV types were concordant between mothers and infants.
Impact:
- This study provides further evidence supporting the hypothesis of vertical HPV transmission as a contributing factor in neonatal liver diseases like INGCH and EBDA.
- Identifies a potential etiological link between maternal HPV infection and severe neonatal hepatobiliary disorders.
- Highlights the importance of considering viral etiologies in unexplained neonatal liver conditions.
Abstract:
We previously recognized the presence of HPV-DNA in cases of idiopathic neonatal giant cell hepatitis (INGCH) and extrahepatic biliary duct atresia (EBDA) in archivated tissue using the PCR technique. In order to investigate a possible vertical transmission we looked for the presence of HPV-DNA in cervical swabs in the mothers along with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded hepatic tissue from 3 infants with INGCH and 4 patients with EBDA by nested-PCR. Cervical smears showed koilocytosis consistent with HPV infection in 2 cases. Delivery was vaginal except for one that was by cesarean section. All infants were males. Amplification of HPV-DNA was demonstrated in all cases, the types being concordant in infants and mothers. Although this is a small group, the findings appear in line with previous data. The presence of the same type of HPV-DNA in the infants' livers and their mothers' cervical swabs is another argument supporting the possibility of vertical transmission of the virus.