RESUMO
It was studied the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) among 228 women with lesions of uterine cervix attending the Ofir Loiola Institute, in Belem, Para, from March 1992 to May 1996. Histopathological examination was performed with all cervical biopsy samples obtained from these patients. In addition, specimens were analysed by both polimerase chain reaction and dot-blot hybridization to detect HPV DNA. The patients were assigned to three groups, according to the diagnosis made by histopathology, as follows: A, including 155 women suffering from invasive epidermoid carcinoma or adenocarcinoma; B, 54 patients having either cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II or III; and C, involving 19 women with chronic cervicitis. The prevalence rates of HPV in groups A, B and C were 70.3%, 63% and 36.8% respectively. HPV 16 accounted for 60.4% and 54.5% of types identified in groups A and B, respectively. Altogether HPV types 16, 18 and 33 were detected in 71.4% of positive patients belonging to group C.