Low risk and High risk HPV Genotypes in Skin Tags

Abstract

Background: Skin tags are flesh-coloured, pedunculated growths with a smooth surface, reported to have an incidence of 46% of the general population. The etiology of skin tags is still unknown, human papillomavirus skin infection is one of the associated factor. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a small DNA virus of papovavirus family that classified into low risk HPV (6& 11) and high risk HPV (16&18) that induce malignant transformation. presence of HPV in the tissues depends on the identification of viral nucleic acids by PCR than serological methods that can't distinguish between present and past infection of HPV. Objectives: To detect the relationship between human papillomavirus skin infection and skin tags and to asses the relation between low risk and high risk HPV genotypes and skin tags clinical criteria and associated clinical conditions. Methodology:This study was conducted on 40 patients (20 females and 20 males) having skin tags (group I) and 20 sex and age matched subjects free from skin tags (group II). Skin biopsy was taken from each subject and Multiplex Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 DNA. Results: Family history was statistically significant higher in group I than group II (P=0.002). STs distributions were higher in neck (21, 52.5%) then axilla (11, 27.5%), back (4, 10%), abdomen (2, 5%) and the thigh(2, 5%). A significant difference in HPV positivity between the studied groups, that showed stepwise down regulation from lesional (19, 47.5%) passing by perilesional (5, 12.5%) and ended by normal skin (2, 10%) specimens (P<0.001). Moreover HPV genotype 6 was the most observed type. Conclusion: Human papillomavirus has a role in the pathogenesis of skin tags. Therefore using of antiviral or immunotherapy may help in skin tags management program. There is no relation between HPV genotypes and skin tags clinical criteria (sites & severity) nor associated clinical conditions. METHODOLOGYThis case-control study was conducted on patients (n=40) having variable numbers of skin tags lesions. They were compared with age and sex-matched healthy volunteers (n=20) as a control group. Patients were recruited from the Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology,