Prevalence of HPV genitalia and oral infection in an unvaccinated population of MSM-HIV in Northwest Spain

Abstract

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and it is a major risk factor for penile, oropharyngeal and anal cancer. HPV anal infection is common in men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), especially in patients living with HIV (MSM-HIV). HPV can also be detected in genitalia and oral tissues. The objective of this cross-sectional study is to analyze the prevalence of HPV genital and oral infection in a HIV-MSM cohort.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of HPV infection included 107 HIV-MSM subjects recruited in a HIV follow-up unit of Northwest Spain. HPV-vaccinated subjects were excluded. HPV-DNA was detected with Anyplex™ II HPV28 method. Participants completed a questionnaire on lifestyle and sexual behavior.

Results: Median age was 43 years (range 35-54 years); 97 patients received antiretroviral treatment (ART); 81 (75.7%) had undetectable HIV-RNA; median CD4-lymphocyte count was 746 cell/mm3; 70 (65.4%) participants had a previous STI. Genitalia HPV-DNA was detected in n=37 (34.6%) subjects and oral HPV-DNA was detected in 26 (24.3%). In 12 (11.2%) patients, HPV-DNA was detected in both locations. High risk HPV (hrHPV) genotypes were detected in 24 (22.4%) and 15 (14%) patients in genitalia and oral samples respectively. Genitalia HPV-DNA isolation was more common in HIV virologically non-suppressed patients (65.4% vs 24.7%; p<0.001).

Conclusions: HPV genitalia and oral infection is common in unvaccinated HIV-MSM patients. Detectable HIV-RNA was associated with higher HPV prevalence in genitalia. High oncogenic risk HPV genotypes were more common in genitalia than in oral cavity.

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