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Presence of HPV DNA statistically different between pterygium, normal cases
Acta Ophthalmol. 2009;87(8):890-5.
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There was a statistically significant difference in human papillomavirus DNA found in pterygium cases and normal conjunctiva cases, a study found.
"It seems that HPV is not necessary to induce pterygium; however, it might play a synergistic role in the multi-stage process of its development," the study authors said.
The study looked at 89 patients who underwent surgical procedures and were divided into two groups. Group one had 58 subjects with clinically diagnosed pterygium. Group two had 31 subjects with normal conjunctiva.
HPV genome was detected with polymerase chain reaction, and 28 HPV genotypes were established with reverse hybridization.
Of the study's 89 subjects, 16 in the pterygium group (27.6%) and three in the normal conjunctiva group (9.7%) were determined to have presence of HPV DNA (P = .041). The study found that HPV type 16 was the most common genotype, found in 56% of pterygium cases that were HPV-positive.
"HPV 16 and HPV 6 co-infections were found in 19% of cases, while HPV 18 and HPV 6 co-infections were observed in 13%. In group 2, all three patients with HPV showed HPV 18," the authors said.