Hpv (herpesvirus) Infection In The Pathogenesis Of Pterygium

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:Pterygium is a conjunctival disease frequently observed in tropical and subtropical climates. The pterygium pathogenesis remains unknown. The squamous cell carcinoma is another conjunctival lesion with HPV(herpesvirus) implication. The purpose of this study is to identify weather the HPV is involved in the pathogenesis of pterygium. Methods:Thirty-six unilateral primary pterygia were classified according to the extension onto the cornea (grade 1, 2, 3 and 4) and the thickness of the epithelium (thick or thin) by slitlamp examination. The subjects were submitted to excision and the pterygium (pterygium group) and a sample of normal conjunctiva excised from the contralateral normal eye (control group) were submitted to PCR (protein-chain-reaction) evaluation for HPV detection. Results:The patients age ranged from 16 to 79 years (average 56.5). 67% were females and 86% lived in rural areas. The most commum pterygium grade observed was the grade 2. The epithelium was thick in 24 and thin in 12 pterygia. The PCR evaluation resulted negative for both pterygium and control group in all samples evaluated. Conclusion:The data showed that HPV infection is not involved in the pathogenesis of pterygium lesion.

Keywords: 425 herpes simplex virus • 532 Pterygium • 507 pathology: human