Presence of HPV DNA in placenta and cervix of pregnant Mexican women.

PURPOSE: To identify the presence of HPV DNA in cervical as well as in placental tissue of pregnant Mexican women and to determine which type is more frequent.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 56 placental samples were obtained from 72 pregnant women. HPV DNA was extracted and amplified with polymerase chain reaction using a consensus primer and then identified by type using RsaI endonuclease. The main outcome measures were placenta with/without HPV relation and HPV types in placenta.

RESULTS

HPV DNA was identified in 75% of cervical tissue samples and 47.2% of placental tissue samples. Type 18 was the most frequently identified HPV type.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a higher frequency of HPV DNA found in the cervix of Mexican women during pregnancy than reported in the previous studies. Its identification in full-term placental tissue has no relation to the type of delivery in childbirth.