THE ROLE OF HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PYOGENIC GRANULOMAS

Background Pyogenic granulomas (lobular capillary hemangiomas) and con dyloma acuminata share similar locations and risk factors. Human papil lomavirus (HPV) types 6 and II are commonly associated with condyloma acuminata, but their association with pyogenic granulomas has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pyogeni c granulomas contain evidence of infection with condyloma-producing HP Vs. Methods Polymerase chain reaction assays for the E6 and E7 gene se quences of HPV types 6 and 11 and another assay for the E7 region of H PV types 16, 31, 33, 35, 42, and 58 were used to evaluate deoxyribonuc leic acid (DNA) extracted from archival pyogenic granuloma biopsies ta ken from cutaneous and oral epithelium. Results Neither cutaneous nor oral pyogenic granulomas contain amplifiable E6 or E7 sequences from a ny of these viruses. Conclusions Pyogenic granulomas are not caused by HPV 6, 11, 16, 31, 33, 35, 42, or 58. This study does not exclude the possibility that other viruses may be responsible for these tumors.