Prevalence of HPV infection by cervical cytologic status in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection according to cervical cytologic status in northeastern Brazil; identify other risk factors for low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs and HSILs); and identify the most prevalent HPV genotypes associated with the lesions.


METHODS
Two cervical smears were collected from 250 women referred for cancer screening, one for cytologic examination and the other to test for the presence of HPV by PCR with genotyping by dot blot hybridization.


RESULTS
There were 110 healthy cervices, 82 LSILs, and 58 HSILs. The overall HPV prevalence was 48%, with higher rates for HSILs, and HPV-16 was the most prevalent type. Age, multiple sexual partners, type of HPV present, smoking, and early onset of sexual activity were risk factors for cervical lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Age, multiple sexual partners, and infection with HPV-16 increased the risk of having LSILs or HSILs. Early onset of sexual activity and smoking only increased the risk of having HSILs.
Fernandes
José Veríssimo
JV
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil. veris@cb.ufrn.br
Meissner
Rosely de Vasconcellos
Rde V
de Carvalho
Maria Goretti Freire
MG
Fernandes
Thales Allyrio Araújo de Medeiros
TA
de Azevedo
Paulo Roberto Medeiros
PR
Villa
Luisa Lina
LL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology