title: Occurrence of human papillomavirus in pterygia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 89 patients undergoing surgical procedures at the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. Group 1 included 58 patients with clinically diagnosed pterygium. Group 2 consisted of 31 individuals with normal conjunctiva. The material was collected during elective surgical procedures. The presence of HPV genome was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Once the presence of HPV DNA was confirmed, 28 HPV genotypes were determined using reverse hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The determinations confirmed the presence of HPV DNA in pterygium. In the material collected from 58 cases of pterygium (group 1), HPV DNA was identified in 16 patients (27.6%). In the material from 31 diagnostic specimens of normal conjunctiva (group 2), the presence of HPV was demonstrated in three cases (9.7%). A statistically significant difference was found in the presence of HPV DNA between the patients from groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.041). HPV type 16 was most common and was demonstrated in 56% of HPV-positive cases of pterygium. HPV 16 and HPV 6 co-infections were found in 19% of cases, while HPV 18 and HPV 6 co-infections were observed in 13%. In group 2, all three patients with HPV showed HPV 18.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that HPV is not necessary to induce pterygium; however, it might play a synergistic role in the multi-stage process of its development.
authors.affiliation: Tadeusz Krwawicz Chair of Ophthalmology and First Eye Hospital, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland. psmarta@wp.pl
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piecyk-Sidor
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polz-Dacewicz
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zagórski
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zarnowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000235:genetics; D052163:Human papillomavirus 6 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011625:Pterygium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D013285:Strabismus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral