Studies on the prevalence of human papillomavirus in pregnant women in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
In order to evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the pregnant population in Japan.


METHODS
We examined cervical swabs of 1,183 pregnant women for HPV DNA using a PCR-RFLP method during October, 2000 and February, 2001. The overall prevalence of HPV in 1,183 pregnant women was analyzed and stratified by age.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of HPV in pregnant women was 12.5% (148 of 1,183 cases). The prevalence in pregnant women younger than 25 years (22.6%, 28 of 124 cases) was significantly higher compared with that in pregnant women > or =25 years (11.3%, 120 of 1057 cases, P< 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate a significantly higher prevalence of HPV infection in younger pregnant Japanese women.
Takakuwa
Koichi
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. obgy@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Mitsui
Takuya
T
Iwashita
Mitsutoshi
M
Kobayashi
Iwao
I
Suzuki
Akira
A
Oda
Takaaki
T
Torii
Yuichi
Y
Matsumoto
Masahiko
M
Yahata
Goki
G
Tanaka
Kenichi
K
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence
D004279:DNA, Viral