RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women with Trichomonas vaginalis infection, and the reason remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 40,000 liquid-based cytology specimens were tested from 2005 to 2008. Among these, high-risk HPV testing using the hybrid capture II assay was performed in positive cases of T. vaginalis according to the age of patients (<30 years old, between 30 and 50 years old, more than 50 years old). As controls, HPV detection was also performed in 450 normal smears. RESULTS: T. vaginalis was found in 80 cases (0.2%). From these 80 cases, 57 were available for HPV testing (8 patients <30 years old, 42 patients between 30 and 50 years old and 7 patients more than 50 years old). As controls, high-risk HPV was tested in 150 patients with normal cytology for each of these three age categories. High-risk HPV was significantly more frequently detected in women with T. vaginalis than in women with normal smear irrespective of the categories of age (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: For the first time, we demonstrated a significant prevalence of high-risk HPV in women with cytological proved T. vaginalis infection independent of the age ranges. Our data suggest a potential association between these two infectious agents by the way of a sexual intercourse and probably by a biochemical or immunological reasons.