Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus among Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Carcinoma

Author(s): Mahmuda Naznin, Md. Zahid Hossain, Mousomi Sarker, Md. Shameem Yazdany, Md. Anower Hussain Mian, Farzana Ashrafi Neela

Background: Cervical carcinoma is closely linked to high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, underscoring its significance in research and public health efforts. Identifying HPV types and their distribution informs targeted prevention, including vaccination programs.

Aim of the study: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of high-risk HPV among patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Rajshahi Medical College, along with Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh. A total of 310 VIA test-positive cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma through histopathological assessment were purposively enrolled as study subjects. MS Office tools were used for data analysis.

Results: Among participants, 77% exhibited high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). In HPV-positive carcinoma cases (n=52), HPV-16 was the predominant single variant (32.7%), while HPV-16 & 18 coexisted in 17.3% of cases. For HPV-positive CIN-I cases (n=109), HPV-18 (39.4%) emerged as the primary single variant, and non-HPV-16/18 (6.4%) as multiple variants. HPV-16 (35.3%) prevailed in HPV-positive CIN-II cases (n=17), with HPV-16 & 18 in 17.6%. In HPV-positive CIN-III cases (n=62), HPV-16 (37.1%) and HPV-16 & 18 (12.9%) were most prevalent as single and multiple variants, respectively.

Conclusion: Among the three-fourths of VIA test-positive cases with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and carcinoma, high-risk HPV is prevalent. In the Rajshahi region of Bangladesh, the most prevalent viral causes of single or multiple HPV infections are HPV-16 and HPV-18.