Current knowledge about HPV infection

Objective: Overview of current data on HPV infection.

Methods: Review article. Methods: Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital in Ostrava, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, General University Hospital in Prague.

Results: Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted pathogen that causes anogenital disorders. Persistent viral infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes causes virtually all cancers of the cervix, 60% of vulvar cancers, 70% of vaginal cancers and 93% of anal cancers.

Conclusions: The discovery of oncogenic potential of HPV and knowledge about etiopathogenesis of HPV infection has enabled great advances in primary and secondary prevention of precancerous lesions and malignant diseases.