GENITAL WARTS

GENITAL WARTS

Human Papilloma Virus or HPV is a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) virus.
HPV virus carries genetic information. Molecular biology techniques deciphered the genetic code of most HPV virus and its relation with aggressiveness and human body locations of the infections.

DNA is like a program that every cell of the human body has. It contains all the information that give us our physical appearance, individual and unique characteristics. The same goes for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
More than 100 types of HPV have been discovered. They differ in their DNA which make HPV more or less aggressive, infect the body in different locations,  give them a causal relation with Cervical Cancer, other types of cancer, skin and mucosal epithelium diseases,  or simple genital warts.

HPV is a DNA virus that affects only humans.

H=Human.
P= Papilloma                                                                                         
V=Virus

Human Papilloma Virus or HPV virus belongs to the family of papovavirus. Papovavirus are divided in two genera, type A and type B. Type A papovavirus do not induce infections in other species than humans and can not be cultivate. Their only host are humans.
Type B papovavirus does not affect humans and can be cultivate. They are important as a laboratory model.
Human papilloma virus or HPV virus are characterized by having a small diameter. Viral particles are identical by the electron microscope view, they differ only in their DNA.  More than hundred types of HPV have been discovered and new types are being discovered continually.
Many of the subtypes found are related to infections in male and female genitalia.
HPV virus infections are related with the genesis or development of some carcinomas of the female genitals, penis, anus, mouth, cutaneous carcinomas associated or not with skin warts. Depending on the subtype, HPV is a cancer cause.  
HPV genital infection is considered a sexually transmitted disease. Other transmission routes are possible, also the spread of mother to child during birth.

Drs. Herald Zur Hausen research was the first to establish a relation between HPV and genital cancer.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection can persist many years, but also it is possible a self-limiting process with HPV disappearance defeated  by the body's defenses.
HPV genital infection has three stages, a latent stages were HPV (Human Papillomavirus) can only be diagnosed by DNA techniques, a subclinical stage were HPV can be detected by DNA techniques and the use of  some instruments like camera,  colposcopy, etc. The third stage or clinical stage permits us to see HPV lesions by the naked eye.

The certain diagnose most be done by molecular biology. 

Using molecular pathology techniques, the HPV test, unlike the Pap smear, allows us to have a precise diagnosis of the Human Papillomavirus. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a painless technique which involves the extraction of cellular material as it is done in a Pap smear but, unlike this, it has a sensitivity of 100% in the cervix. In other words, there is no possibility of false negatives if the extraction is correctly performed. This molecular biology technique, which we prefer and recommend, also gives us the possibility to find out which type of HPV the patient actually has. The importance of this lies in the fact that there are tumor viruses, in other words, viruses related to cancer such as: HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 68, among others. There are other viruses related to benign warts which may result unsightly or contagious. This technique is also used in other genital areas such as the vagina, vulva, anus, penis or other parts of the body, which cannot be contagious, such as the mouth or areas of the skin near the genitals and different organs where the HPV infections are less frequent, on the other hand PCR lets us know if HPV vaccines will be preventive or not
Another currently used technique for detection of the HPV is the “hybrid-capture” test which gives us the possibility to obtain information about the human papillomaviruses connected to genital infection or cervix cancer as well as some benign viruses related to common warts. Unlike PCR, this technique does not report on the infectious type of viruses and it is only sensitive to the most frequently found viruses.
The “hybrid-capture” detects HPV viruses which are often found in the genitals. These one are classified in: Group I: 6, 11, 42, 43, 44, 53 and 54 called “low-risk” HPV types and which are not related to cancer; and Group II viruses, also called of “high-risk”: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 68 related cancer.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus), can be considered a transforming agent thus called tumoral viruses.
Tumoral viruses such as some types of HPV cause the transformation of a normal into a cancerous cell. This is a result of HPV  ability to integrate its genetic information (HPV DNA) into the nuclear DNA of the host cell. Some HPV oncoproteins play an important role in this transformation.

• HPV or Human Papillomavirus is a DNA virus. Each type of HPV has his one and individual genetic characteristics.

• HPV or Human Papillomavirus is a virus that infects humans only.

• HPV or human papillomavirus has many genetic variants and there are more than hundred types discovered by molecular pathology.

• HPV or human papillomavirus can induce the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell.

• HPV or Human Papillomavirus is fundamentally related to cervical, vagina, vulva, anus, penis, mouth, airways, skin and others types of cancer.

• HPV or Human Papilloma Virus can be diagnosed early on by DNA techniques (PCR and Hybrid Capture).

• HPV or Human Papilloma Virus also can be detected by Pap smear and Colposcopy but usually when it is already in advanced stages 

• Genital warts treatment