Presence of human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus in the cervix of women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was sought in cervical scrapings from 110 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-i nfected women to evaluate the role of these viruses as risk factors for squ amous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. By using PCR, presence of HPV- DNA and EBV-DNA was found in 60.9% (67/110) and in 10% (11/110) of clinical samples, respectively. Identification of oncogenic group of HPV by hybrid capture (HC II, Murex-Digene) indicated the presence of low-risk HPV in 13 (19.4%) patients, high-risk HPV in 28 (41.8%), and both types of HPV in 26 (38.8%) patients. Squamous intraepithelial lesions were present in 59 cases , being low-grade (n = 52) and high-grade (n = 7) lesions. HPV was detected in 84.7% of patients with lesions, in association with low-grade (43/52) a nd high-grade lesions (7/7), and in 33% of patients without lesions. EBV-DN A was detected in 8 patients with low-grade lesions and in 3 patients witho ut lesions. Concurrent genital HPV and EBV infection was observed in 9 case s. HPV was associated with detection of squamous intraepithelial lesions [O R = 3.55; 95% CI = (1.96; 6.48)]. No significant association was found betw een presence of EBV and detection of lesions, both in case of EBV infection alone [OR =1.4; 95% CI = (0.93; 2.12)] and in case of HPV/EBV combined inf ection [OR = 0.87; 95%CI = (0.54; 1.42)]. These data confirm the significan t role of HPV as risk factor for squamous intraepithelial lesions and sugge st that EBV could not be involved in the pathogenesis of the lesions that a rise in the cervix of HIV-positive women. J. Med. Virol. 62:410-415, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.