High-risk human papillomavirus infection among women attending women's hospital in Qatar

Objective:This study aimed to determine the prevalence and ideal detection method for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes, in order to evaluate prevention strategies in cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases in Qatar.The study compared performance of cervical cytology and HPV DNA test to detect high-risk HPV genotype (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59) infections in a sample of Qatar's female population, using High Risk Screen Real-Time PCR test.Methods:A series of 95 women attending the Gynae-oncology clinic at Hamad Medical Corporation between August 2007 and May 2008 were enrolled in this study. Cervical smears isolated from patients were subjected to High Risk Screen Real-Time test to confirm the presence of HPV DNA. The smears were characterized as ASCUS; LGSIL and HGSIL.Results:The overall prevalence of high-risk HPV in our study population (n=95) was 64%, with HPV 52, 56 and 16 being the commonest types detected..Of the 95 samples in the study, 93 were tested...