Influence of human Papilloma Virus (hPV) infection on early pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES

HPV infection in early pregnancy may be a cause of miscarriage. Pregnancy significantly increases the risk of HPV infection. While ascending intrauterine infection with colonization of the trophoblast is commonly observed, descend- ing hematogenous infection should also be considered. The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of HPV infection and its influence on pregnancy.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study was conducted in the years 2010-2015 on a group of 143 pregnant women. The study group consisted of 84 women with abnormal course of the first trimester of pregnancy. The control group consisted of 59 women with normal pregnancy who delivered healthy neonates. Samples of cervix tissue along with samples of tropho- blast or placenta were taken for the study. The presence and genotype of the HPV virus were detected using a BIOTOOL B&M Labs set. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software.

RESULTS

The rate of HPV infection in the entire studied population was 13% (19/143): the virus was confirmed in 18% (15/84) of patients in the study group and in 7% (4/59) of the control group. HR HPV was detected in 13 patients in the study group and three patients in the control group. HR HPV infection was more frequent in patients with an abnormal course of the first trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.03). HR HPV trophoblast infection was found only in patients in the study group (p = 0.02). In two members of the study group, the HPV virus was found in the trophoblast only.

CONCLUSIONS

The obtained results may confirm the presence of adverse effects of HPV infection on early pregnancy. HR HPV trophoblast infection was observed only in women with 1st trimester complications. The presence of HPV only in trophoblast samples in some patients may suggest a descending - hematogenous route of primary infection.