Current studies on human papillomavirus in Saudi Arabia

Authors

  • Fatimah Saeed Alhamlan King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Ahmed A Al-Qahtani King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Mohammed N Al-Ahdal King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.6538

Keywords:

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Cervical Cancer, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a significant etiological factor and an important prognosticator in cervical cancer. Indeed, researchers worldwide have confirmed these roles for high-risk HVPs in over 70% of cervical cancer cases. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 561,200 new cancer cases (5.2% of all new cancers) are attributed to HPV infection. Over 120 types of HPV are classified further as either low-risk HPV (LR-HPV) or high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) based on their oncological potential of transforming cells. The LR-HPV types cause benign hyperproliferative lesions (i.e. genital warts) while the HR-HPV types are strongly associated with premalignant and malignant cervical lesions. Data on the prevalence of HPV, survival of infected patients, and mortality rate are scarce in Saudi Arabia. The unsubstantiated assumption of a low prevalence of HPV in Saudi Arabia has contributed to limiting HPV research in this conservative country. Therefore, the goal of this review is to shed light on the current HPV research being conducted and the prevalence of HPV in Saudi Arabia.

Author Biography

Fatimah Saeed Alhamlan, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Postdoctoral Fellow at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. Majoring in Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (area of interest is Virology). My current projects are HCV drug resistance mutations and HPV and its role in cervical carcinoma.

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Published

2015-07-04

How to Cite

1.
Alhamlan FS, Al-Qahtani AA, Al-Ahdal MN (2015) Current studies on human papillomavirus in Saudi Arabia. J Infect Dev Ctries 9:571–576. doi: 10.3855/jidc.6538

Issue

Section

Reviews

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