Abstract

CABEZAS CRUZ, Evelio. Aspects related to the vaccine against human papillomavirus. Rev Cubana Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2008, vol.34, n.3. ISSN 0138-600X.

Cervicouterine cancer has historically been the number one in women. Approximately 500 000 new cases appear every year in the world, and almost 274 000 women die of it, at about 85 % of them in poor countries. It is estimated that in the next 10 years its incidence and mortality will increase by 25 %. Thirty years after the application of Papanicolaou Test in Latin America and the Caribbean, it has not been attained the same declination observed in other developed countries. It has been proved that HPV infection is one of the necessary factors for the appearance of cervicouterine cancer. It is important to know these concepts not to fall in the "HPV psychosis". Besides, 90 % of the women acquiring an infection eliminate it in 2 years.The types 16 and 18 of the HPV are linked with 70 % of the cases of cervicouterine cancer. The HPV infection is associated with the appearance of malignant lesions not only in other parts of the genital apparatus, but also in other parts of the body. The emergence of prophyilactic vaccines against HPV may reduce the incidence and mortality from cervicouterine cancer. Up to now, 2 types of vaccines are commercialized: Gardasil against types 16, 18, 6 and 11, and Cervarix against 16 and 18. Although these new vaccines are a hope for the possible control of the HPV infection, it is necessary to define some questions that still exist as regards use, effectiveness and target population, among others, before applying them in our environment.

Keywords : Cervicouterine cancer; HPV; prophylactic vaccines..

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