Epidemiology of Infection and Detection of Oncogenic Types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) by Hybrid Capture in Women without Apparent Risk Factors

Abstract

Objective. To determine prevalence of infection by human papilloma virus (HPV),in female population, with no apparent risk factors, who spontaneously undergo the Papanicolaou test at the Hospital Universitario Dr. José E. González during the 2006-2010 period. Materials and methods. An observational, cross-sectional, prospective, analytic, comparative study in 361 patients who spontaneously requested a vaginal cytology test. Results. A total of 361 women were studied from which 18 (5%) were taken out since their sample was not enough, thereby resulting in a final significant sample of 343 patients. The study showed infection by HPV in 51 patients (14,9%); there was higher prevalence in the positive divorced group (11,8%); with respect to the negative divorced group 3,1% (p=0.0152). It was established a significant correlation (p=0,001) between the number of sexual partners and the test positivity (Rho=0,175), as well as a significant association between being divorced and being positive (p=0,0152, X2=5,888). Discussion. Normal gynecological examination does not rule out the presence of VPH. Likewise, a normal vaginal cytology report or with non-specific inflammatory changes does not allow to conclude the absence of HPV, so that early detection of infection by HPV, calls for molecular methods of diagnosis. It can be concluded that by using traditional methods of diagnosis it is not possible to detect all HPV-infected patients and it would be desirable to perform molecular tests for infection diagnosis.