Human papilloma virus-16/18 cervical infection among women attending a family medical clinic in Riyadh.
BACKGROUND
Prevalence information is lacking on human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (HPV-16/18) infection in cervical tissues of women residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, there are no observations on progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).


METHODS
Pap smear and HPV-16/18 DNA detection by PCR followed by Southern blotting was performed on 120 subjects (Saudi and other Arab nationals) during routine gynecological examination. Some HPV-positive subjects were followed for 4 years, by Pap smear every 6 months and by HPV DNA detection at the end of 4 years.


RESULTS
Overall HPV-16/18 prevalence was 31.6%. HPV-16 prevalence alone was 13.3%, HPV-16 as a mixed infection with HPV-18 was 15%, and all HPV-16 was 28.3%. HPV-18 alone was 3.3%, HPV-18 as a mixed infection with HPV-16 was 15%, and all HPV-18 was 18.3%. Ten subjects had cervical abnormalities with the Pap smear test, six of whom were HPV-16/18 positive, 1 with HPV-16, 1 with HPV-18, and 4 with a mixed infection of HPV-16/18. Of all 23 HPV-16/18-positive subjects, either as individual or mixed infection, followed for 4 years, 7 showed abnormal cytology, 6 at initial examination and 1 during follow-up. Of these 7, 6 reverted to normal without treatment and 1 was treated and became normal after 3 years. None of the subjects progressed to CIN-III.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of HPV-16/18 was found, but with a low rate of progression to CIN. A significant association with abnormal cytology was found only in patients with HPV-16/18 mixed infection.
Al-Muammar
Tarfah
T
Department of Family Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ahdal
Mohammed N
MN
Hassan
Ahmed
A
Kessie
George
G
Dela Cruz
Damian M
DM
Mohamed
Gamal E
GE
D000328:Adult; D015139:Blotting, Southern / Q000379:methods; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology
D004279:DNA, Viral