The latent infection of human papilloma virus in pregnat woman and colonization of placenta – preliminary report

Abstract

Abstract Human papilloma virus infection may have a latent form without characteristic changes in Pap-smears. Some data suggests there exists a possibility of materno-foetal transmission of the HPV infection. HPV infection may be one of the possible reasons for IUGR. Aim: The main aim of the study was to find DNA HPV in the Pap-smear and placentas in pregnancy complicated by the intrauterine growth restriction. Material and methods: In two groups of women with normal Pap-smears, the material for DNA presence was taken from the uterine cervix and from the central part of placenta after the delivery. The study group consisted of pregnant women with the pregnancy complicated by fetal growth restriction. The control group consisted of women with normal fetal weight pregnancy. In cervical smears and placental fragments the presence of HPV DNA and typing of HPV using the PCR method has been done. Results: In the control group the presence of low risk types of HPV was found but DNA HPV wasn’t present in the placental fragments. In the study group, in 4 cases high risk HPV DNA was found in cervical smears and in 3 of those cases HPV DNA was also present in the placental fragments. In two cases it was type 16, in one – type 18. Conclusions: The latent form of high risk HPV infection might be the reason for materno-foetal transmission of HPV. The high rate of high oncogenic risk types of HPV in the group of pregnancies complicated by IUGR might suggest the correlation between HPV infection and IUGR etiology.