Distribution of human papillomavirus types in cervicovaginal washings from women evaluated in a sexually transmitted diseases clinic.
BACKGROUND
Women evaluated for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may be at increased risk for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a condition associated with cervical dysplasia. The distribution of HPV types in such a population is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The goal was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection, the distribution of HPV types, and the type distribution in relation to cervical dysplasia in women in an STD clinic.


METHODS
Cervicovaginal lavage and Papanicolaou smear specimens were obtained from 295 women. Lavage specimens were analyzed for HPV by polymerase chain reaction/reverse blot strip assay.


RESULTS
Cervical cytologic findings were abnormal for 19.7% of women. HPV DNA was detected in 49.2% of women (high-risk HPV in 42.4%). HPV positivity correlated with the degree of cytologic abnormality. In women with dysplasia, HPV types 16, 66, 83, 56, 52, and 59 were commonly detected. Specimens containing abundant HPV DNA occurred most often in women with dysplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
HPV infection was common in women attending an STD clinic. Numerous individual HPV types were associated with cervical dysplasia, including "low-risk" types.
Brown
Darron R
DR
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. darbrow@iupui.edu
Legge
Denise
D
Qadadri
Brahim
B
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral