HPV type 39: what is it, what to do when detected?

Today, medicine has information about more than a hundred types of human papillomavirus (HPV). They are divided by different characteristics, including by the category of danger to human health. HPV type 39 virus is one of the most dangerous, as it can provoke the emergence of serious problems and malfunctions. Treatment of such a virus is carried out only by a doctor, regularly monitoring the activity of the infection and the degree of its impact on the body.

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Structure HPV type 39

HPV viruses affect the cellular structures of the skin and mucous membranes, which are represented by keratinocytes - this is the body's main defense against the negative influence of the external environment.

Papillomavirus (HPV) has relatively small virions that do not have a membrane shell. Its diameter is approximately 30 nm, which is 4 times smaller than the size of influenza or HIV viruses.

HPV genotype 39 is a circular double-stranded DNA molecule packed with histones, cellular proteins that participate in the formation of DNA inside the nucleus. The genome is encoded by two types of proteins:

• E proteins are responsible for the regulation and proliferation of cells and are also responsible for malignancy processes;
• L-proteins provide cell structure and form the capsid of virions.

The HPV life cycle depends on the stage of development of keratinocytes: the latter form the epidermal surface layer of the skin, as well as the layered epithelial tissue of the mucous membrane. Intensively multiplying young skin cells cover the basement membrane, which is located below the upper epidermal layer. Their maturation and differentiation lead to the fact that keratinocytes gradually shift to the skin surface. HPV affects undifferentiated structures, while new viruses are formed in keratinocytes at the final stage of differentiation.

E proteins provide the necessary content of HPV type 39 DNA in the cell nucleus and control gene expression. Proteins E1 and E2 form a connection with viral DNA, involving structural replication systems.

L-proteins are necessary for the formation of the capsid and viral DNA packaging. The basic structural component of the HPV capsid is the L1 protein, which forms pentamers. One capsid consists of 72 pentamers, and its shape is spherical.

The minor protein substance L2 is also one of the structural components of the virus. One such protein is related to one pentamer of L1. Most likely, it is necessary to attract HPV DNA to the accumulating particles. There is a theory that both proteins are able to interact with histones, which package the viral DNA.

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Symptoms

HPV type 39 does not always reveal itself with any obvious symptoms: if a person has strong immunity, then the virus does not reproduce, and there are no symptoms. In such a situation, they talk about the banal carriage of the virus type 39.

If the immune system fails, the HPV virus type 39 is activated. Pointed or flat condylomas are formed on the mucous membranes or skin: the latter are considered the most dangerous and can become malignant.

Pointed condylomas are elongated, isolated growths that are similar in color to healthy skin or mucous tissues. Such growths must be treated, since they are easily inflamed, damaged, and also prone to spreading. The formation of condylomas occurs very intensively: one formation can appear literally in a few hours.

With HPV type 39, growths are most often found on the labia, near the anus, on the mucous tissues of the vagina and cervix (in female patients), as well as on the head of the penis and on the foreskin (in male patients).

Men are most often the carriers of HPV, since manifestations of the disease are rare in them. In women, the symptoms are more active, and the internal reproductive system can be affected.

HPV 39 in women

In female patients, signs of HPV type 39 may be as follows:

• the appearance of condylomas in the area of the external genitalia, in the vaginal cavity, near the anus;
• the appearance of vaginal discharge with bloody or purulent inclusions (often with a characteristic “fishy” smell);
• pain in the lower abdomen, in the lumbar spine;
• discomfort during urination;
• unpleasant sensations during sexual intercourse (even to the point of pain).

In addition, with HPV, general signs of an inflammatory reaction in the body may attract attention: we are talking about deterioration of the skin and hair, dizziness and nausea, weakness, constant unmotivated fatigue.

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HPV 39 in men

The HPV type 39 virus manifests itself somewhat differently in the male body. Thus, the presence of such signs is possible:

• purulent mucus on the head of the penis;
• formation of a reddish “plaque” in the head area, with a tendency to increase;
• discomfort during urination;
• weakening of potency, decreased libido.

General signs of an inflammatory reaction may also be present: drowsiness, apathy, excessive fatigue, dizziness. Let us recall that all of these symptoms may appear in men only when the HPV infection is activated, which only occurs under certain conditions - for example, when the immune system is sharply weakened. Such activation in male patients is relatively rare, so in most cases there is only carriage of the HPV virus type 39, without any obvious symptoms.

Diagnostics

Externally, during examination or questioning of the patient, it is impossible to determine the presence of the HPV virus type 39: the symptoms of the pathology are often hidden, and the manifestations can be similar to other diseases that are sexually transmitted. The only effective method is the analysis for HPV type 39, which can be performed using different technologies:

• Hybrid capture technique (Digene HPV test, HPV DNA testing).

This method determines the DNA of a viral cell and is most often used to determine the concentration of the virus and assess the probability of malignancy of a disease process. The procedure is based on the immunochemical determination of the products of nucleic acid hybridization by monoclonal antibodies.

• HPV 39 PCR.

This is a qualitative study that only helps to answer the question of whether the virus is present in the body. The method is not able to determine the quantitative content of viral cells, but it can be used to determine the genotype of the virus.

• Biological seeding.

The biological material that is taken from the patient is sown on a special nutrient medium. This diagnostic method is lengthy and expensive, so it is used relatively rarely to detect HPV type 39.

• Biopsy.

This method is used to exclude or confirm a malignant process.

An indirect sign of the presence of HPV type 39 in the body is the presence of cervical dysplasia in a woman. Although diagnostics are not carried out based on this sign alone: laboratory confirmation of the presence of papillomavirus infection is necessary.

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Treatment

If the diagnostic results reveal HPV type 39 in the body, the doctor prescribes appropriate medications and hardware procedures (if necessary). In general, treatment for HPV should consist of taking antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs. If there are growths, condylomas on the body, they are removed by any of the existing methods. This can be laser or radio wave removal, cryotherapy or surgery.

What to do if HPV type 39 is detected, but there are no growths or other symptoms? In such a situation, the doctor may prescribe a course of immunomodulators. In addition, a woman should regularly check her health with a gynecologist so as not to miss the moment of the disease development. A repeat HPV test should be taken annually. If a man is the carrier of HPV type 39, he is also recommended to monitor the activity of the virus, regularly undergo diagnostics. Preventive courses of antiviral drugs may be prescribed.

What medications for internal use can a doctor recommend if HPV type 39 is detected?

• Interferon is a basic endogenous factor with antiviral and immunostimulating activity. The use of the drug upon detection of HPV type 39 begins as early as possible: inhalations are carried out through the mouth or nose, using three ampoules of the drug for one procedure. The frequency of inhalations is twice a day, for three days.
• Cycloferon is a preparation of acridoneacetic acid and N-methylglucamine, is an inducer of interferon formation in the body. Cycloferon for HPV type 39 is taken according to an individually selected treatment regimen.
• Prodigiosan is a non-specific immunostimulating drug that is administered as intramuscular injections according to an individually selected regimen.
• Isoprinosine is an immunostimulant and antiviral drug that is prescribed in an average dosage of 50 mg per kilogram of body weight (the dosage should be divided into three doses). The duration of therapy is from five to fifteen days, depending on the severity of the infection.

In some cases, as additional treatment for HPV type 39, the doctor may prescribe medications such as Fluorouracil, Podophyllotoxin, Podophyllin, etc.

Prevention HPV type 39

There is no special drug in the world that can rid the body of HPV type 39. However, scientists have developed two types of vaccination that can prevent the infection from entering the body.

The first known vaccine, Gardasil, has long been used in almost seventy countries around the world, and some countries have even included it in the list of mandatory vaccinations. Gardasil is a tetravalent drug, the components of which are proteins similar to the protein substances of HPV. Such proteins are produced by yeast and do not pose a danger to humans. Initially, this vaccine provided protection against infection with HPV viruses of types six, eleven, sixteen and eighteen. But in practice, it was discovered that immunity after vaccination also creates protection against other oncogenic HPV, including type 39, since the so-called "cross-reaction" is triggered.

Vaccination is always only preventive, not therapeutic. Doctors recommend administering the drug to patients before the onset of sexual activity - the optimal age for vaccination can be from 9 to 26 years.

The second type of vaccine, an analogue of Gardasil, has not yet been introduced into clinical practice and is at the registration stage.

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Forecast

If the HPV type 39 virus is already present in the body, then a person will not be able to completely get rid of it: today, medicine is powerless in this matter. All that remains is to periodically conduct treatment and preventive courses to contain the activity of the infection.

If the virus is detected at an early stage, then timely and competent treatment is a guarantee that the patient will not have dangerous complications and consequences in the form of infertility, the development of cancerous tumors. It is believed that the presence of HPV type 39 in the body significantly increases the risk of developing malignant processes. However, this does not mean that such processes threaten absolutely all patients. If you regularly visit a doctor and monitor the activity of the virus, then dangerous conditions can be avoided.

It is worse when HPV type 39 does not reveal itself with any symptoms: such a pathology is difficult to diagnose and no less difficult to treat. Since it is currently not possible to completely remove the infection from the body, the only correct strategy is to reduce viral activity, which leads to a decrease in the risk of developing dangerous complications and to an improvement in the overall prognosis of the disease.

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