Human Papillomavirus Infection: Low-Risk and High-Risk Genotypes in Women in Catania, Sicily. Issue 6 (1st July 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agodi, Antonella; Barchitta, Martina; La Rosa, Nadia; Cipresso, Rosalba; Guarnaccia, Mariella; Caruso, Melania; Castiglione, Maria Grazia; Ettore, Giuseppe; Travali, Salvatore
• Is Part Of: International journal of gynecological cancer. Volume 19:Issue 6(2009)
• Page Start: 1094
• Page End: 1098
• Publication Date: 2009-07-01
• Subjects: Human papillomavirus -- Prevalence -- Risk factors -- Multiple genotypes -- Cross-sectional study; Generative organs, Female -- Cancer -- Periodicals; 616.99465
• DOI: 10.1111/IGC.0b013e3181a83c9d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1048-891X

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been strongly and consistently associated with cervical carcinoma and its cytologic precursors, such as squamous intraepithelial lesions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with the aim of estimating the prevalence of cervical HPV infection in women attending a service of colposcopy in Catania, Eastern Sicily, Italy. Methods: The prevalence of type-specific HPV was examined in women with negative colposcopic results and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 1, 2, or 3, with the aim of providing some cross-sectional figures on the local epidemiology of HPV infection. Results: Human papillomavirus DNA was found in 62.1% of women with negative colposcopic results and in 73.2% with positive colposcopic results. Among high-risk types, a predominance of HPV-16 (51.5% of infected women) was shown followed by HPV-56 (29.7%). An age-related pattern was described with a peak in HPV prevalence among women younger than 25 years, followed by the expected decline in prevalence and a second characteristic peak in the perimenopausal or postmenopausal years, useful to design future control strategies. Conclusions: The age-related pattern of HPV prevalence and the presence of uncommon high-risk genotypes and their role in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer need to be addressed by specific epidemiologic studies to design large-scale screening programs and multivalent vaccine strategies.