Molecular Detection of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Females and Assessment of Risk Factors for HPV Infection: A Study from Coastal Karnataka

• Main Authors: Varsha Saxena, Vidya Pai, Rajagopal K, Abdulla Mehnaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2018-06-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Subjects: awareness; cervical cancer; human papillomavirus; pcr; south india
• Online Access: https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/11642/35457_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(A_SHU)_PFA(OM)_PN(SS).pdf

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the fourth common malignancies in world and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection may lead to the development of the precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the presence of HPV in women who were admitted with cervical abnormality or attending Gynaecology OPD for any reason. Materials and Methods: In this study a complete clinical history and demographic details of 90 subjects were recorded of which total 50 tissue biopsies and 40 cytobrush samples were collected. Results of histopathology and Papanicolaou (PAP) smear for biopsies and cytobrushes respectively were recorded from the medical records. Further PCR was performed for the presence or absence of HPV in all samples. Results: Various risk factors for the acquision of HPV infection were analysed in the present study. Out of 50 tissue biopsies, 15 had cervical carcinoma, 2 had Cervical Intraepithelial NeoplasiaII and 33 had chronic cervicitis. Whereas out of 40 cytobrushes, 32 were Negative for Intraepithelial Lesions/Malignancy, 2 had Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance, 3 had Inflammatory Smear with Reactive Atypia and 3 had Inflammatory Smear. PCR results confirmed only 11 HPV positives among 50 tissue biopsies and 6 HPV positives among 40 cytobrush samples. The overall prevalence of HPV in our study was 18.8% only. Conclusion: Present study shows that the occurrence of HPV is low as compared to the other studies done in other parts of India and in our region there is no awareness regarding HPV infection as well. Overall, these findings could have important implications for the preventions of cervical cancer.