Research article

Human papillomavirus in amniotic fluid

Mack T Ruffin IV¹ , Joanne M Bailey² , Diane Roulston³ , Daisy R Lee⁴ , Ruth Ann Tucker⁴ , David C Swan⁴ and Elizabeth R Unger⁴

¹  Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, 1018 Fuller St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0708, USA

²  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Nurse Midwives, F4835 Mott 0264, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0264, USA

³  Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, 1301 Catherine Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0602, USA

⁴  Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE B6109, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2006, 6:28doi:10.1186/1471-2393-6-28

Published:	4 September 2006

Abstract

Background

There is evidence to suggest that human papillomavirus (HPV) can cross the placenta resulting in in-utero transmission. The goal of this study was to determine if HPV can be detected in amniotic fluid from women with intact amniotic membranes.

Methods

Residual amniotic fluid and cultured cell pellets from amniocentesis performed for prenatal diagnosis were used. PGMY09/11 L1 consensus primers and GP5+/GP6+ primers were used in a nested polymerase chain reaction assay for HPV.

Results

There were 146 paired samples from 142 women representing 139 singleton pregnancies, 2 twin pregnancies, and 1 triplet pregnancy. The women were 78% Caucasian, 5% African American, 14% Asian, and 2% Hispanic. The average age was 35.2 years with a range of 23–55 years. All samples were β-globin positive. HPV was not detected in any of the paired samples.

Conclusion

Given the age range, race, and ethnicity of the study population, one would anticipate some evidence of HPV if it could easily cross the placenta, but there was none.