Genital Human Papillomavirus Infections: Correlation of Cytological, Colposcopic and Histological Features with Viral Types in Women and Their Male Partners

Abstract

To determine the incidence of anogenital papillomavirus infections and to assess the value of available diagnostic methods, we compared the cytological, colposcopic and histological features of anogenital papillomavirus-related lesions with their associated human papillomavirus types (HPV) in 300 women and in their male partners. HPV-type deoxyribonucleic acid was detected by blot hybridization in 398 out of 624 subclinical and clinically defined anogenital lesions. Whatever the site of the lesion, condylomas and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) were found in 84% of lesions associated with HPV 6-11, compared with 32% of lesions containing HPV 16-18 (P < 0.001). Among the HPV 16-18 associated lesions, high-grade cervical, vaginal, vulvar and anal intraepithelial neoplasias represented 45% (P < 0.001) of the lesions. In 65% of 23 cases of squamous anogenital cancer, HPV 16-18 and mixed types were present (P < 0.001). In 54% (161/300) of cases, the lesions were multicentric (161/300). On cytological examination, 27% of the samples gave false negative results. In cervical lesions, there was a good correlation between virological and colposcopic findings, but this was not true for extracervical mucous epithelia in the vagina or on the vulva. With peniscopy in the male partners 220 out of 410 had penile condylomatous lesions and more than half of the 350 male specimens examined by molecular hybridization contained HPV DNA. A correlation was found between the virus types in penile lesions or in cells of the distal urethra and in the cervical lesions of the sexual partner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

High-risk mucosal human papillomavirus infections during infancy & childhood

“…These data support the sexual transmission of HPVs, but the presence of HPV-6 DNA in one virginal woman raises the possibility of alternative routes of viral acquisition. Discrepancies in the HPV type(s) detected in monogamous partners (Ho et al, 1993) and discordance of HPV-16/18 between married couples has also been documented (Monsonego et al, 1993;Hippelainen et al, 1994). However, these findings describe current infection(s) and it is possible they include a dominant HPV type acquired before the present partner.…”

Transmission of Cervical Cancer-Associated Human Papilloma Viruses from Mother to Child

“…Whilst women with low-risk HPV infections had male partners with identical HPV types in 50 and 37% of cases, respectively, the rate of concordance was much lower amongst those with high-risk HPV-16 or HPV-18 infections (24 and 16%). Another study of heterosexual partners using dot-blot assays found a concordance between partners with HPV-16 infections of 57% and of just 29% for HPV-18 [8]. Unfortunately, interpretation of such studies is frequently confounded by the inclusion of short-term and non-monogamous relationships.…”

Colposcopie : apport du test HPV en pratique clinique

“…Quoi qu'il en soit, la cytologie est bien entendu nécessaire et indispensable chez ces patientes. La colposcopie apportant des éléments d'information complémentaire en particulier pour l'évaluation des sites génitaux externes que le frottis ne permet pas de relever, sous réserve de ne pas passer dans l'excès de la surévaluation et du surdiagnostic [61].…”