title: Lack of papillomavirus (HPV) in pterygia of a Brazilian sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because the influence of papillomavirus (HPV) in pterygium pathogenesis is controversial, the aim of this study was to identify whether it is present in the pterygia lesions in our region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with unilateral primary pterygia were submitted to excision of pterygia and a sample of normal conjunctiva. Tissues were submitted to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluation for papillomavirus DNA detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We were unable to detect any HPV DNA in all studied specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results papillomarivus is not important for pterygium formation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmologia, Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. sartoli@fmb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Silvana Artioli
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schellini
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoyama
authors.forename: Claudia Akemi
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Shiratori
authors.forename: Regina Hitomi
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: João Manuel Grisi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Candeias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral