HPV detection in oral mucosa samples in pediatric patients

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The human papillomavirus (HPV) detection favors treatments for patients with clinical manifestations and limits future consequences for those with asymptomatic infections. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HPV detection from oral mucosa samples, of asymptomatic patients and patients with clinical manifestations of laryngeal papillomatosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 49 pediatric patient samples were obtained by exfoliation of the oral mucosa with a sterile brush. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples was extracted and used for HPV detection, using GP5 and GP6 oligonucleotides, by conventional PCR and qPCR reactions. RESULTS: Among the 49 samples, eight were from patients clinically diagnosed with laryngeal papillomatosis, but in both conventional PCR and qPCR technic, only one sample had presented positivity. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that the sample type, the methodology used to collect, the extraction methodology used, the anatomical location of the lesion and the oligonucleotides used; all factors strongly influence the sensitivity of HPV detection by PCR methodology. CONCLUSION: Thus, more studies are needed to better determine the sample collection, and the processing techniques present more reproducibility on PCR detection.