The presence of RNA complementary to HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus) DNA in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after laser therapy.

In-situ hybridization of radiolabelled DNA probes to tissue sections detected RNA complementary to HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus) DNA in 65% (22 of 34) biopsies from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and in none of internally paired benign epithelia from individuals before treatment by laser vaporization cone. Laser therapy did not produce an increase in clinical or subclinical HSV infections of the cervix. Of 18 patients with RNA complementary to HSV-2 DNA in CIN biopsies before treatment, in whom treatment was successful, virus transcripts were detected at follow-up in only two of them.