The impact of HIV infection and immunodeficiency on human papillomavirus type 6 or 11 infection and on genital warts

Epidemiological characteristics of human herpesvirus-8 infection in a large population of antenatal women in Zambia

Comprehensive data describing epidemiological characteristics of the human herpesvirus-8 or Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (HHV-8 or KSHV) infection among pregnant women in a central sub-Saharan Africa are not available. This study determined virus prevalence estimates and the risk factors associated with HHV-8 infection. Cross-sectional, enrollment visit data were analyzed from a prospective cohort study of perinatal transmission of HHV-8 in Lusaka, Zambia. Exposure data were obtained via structured interview, physical examination, medical chart review, and laboratory testing. Among 3,160 antenatal women serologically screened for HHV-8 between September 1998 and October 2000, 40.2% were seropositive. The HHV-8 positive women were more likely to be co-infected with HIV-1 than those who were HHV-8 negative (34% vs. 26%; P < 0.0001). Of 154 variables evaluated by logistic regression analyses, only three risk factors, have emerged as independent predictors of HHV-8 positive serology: diagnosis of genital warts, HIV-1 co-infection and primary education. The association of HHV-8 infection with genital warts and HIV-1 co-infection suggests heterosexual transmission of HHV-8. HIV-1 infection may also act as a marker for particular behaviors, which could be sexual in nature, that are associated with both HIV-1 and HHV-8 transmission. Since HHV-8 facilitates development of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the results of this study could be utilized to identify specific population groups of pregnant women who are at increased risk for this disease.

The Impact of HIV Antiviral Therapy on Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Infections and Hpv-Related Diseases

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections play an important role in the pathogenesis of anogenital cancer and its precursors. HIV-infected individuals exhibit a high prevalence of HPV DNA. Several studies have further shown that HIV-infected individuals have an increased prevalence of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) of the cervix, vulva and anus. The incidence of invasive cervical cancer is also elevated in HIV-positive women as well as that of anal cancer in HIV-positive women and men. Given the relationship between HIV-induced immunosuppression and HPV-associated disease, treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has the potential, through immune reconstitution of the host, to alter the natural history of HPV infection and SIL. However, data on the impact of HAART on HPV disease are sparse and mixed results have been reported.

Natural history, management, and surveillance of recurrent squamous cell penile carcinoma:

For men with penile carcinoma, surveillance strategies may be tailored to the risks of local and regional recurrence, which vary according to the pathologic characteristics of the primary tumor and the modalities employed for local therapy (phallus sparing or extirpative) and regional therapy (surveillance or lymphadenectomy). Men at a higher risk for local or regional recurrence who should have more rigorous follow-up include those (1) treated with phallus-sparing strategies such as laser ablation, topical therapies, or radiotherapy; (2) patients with clinically negative inguinal lymph nodes who are managed without lymphadenectomy despite high-risk primary tumors (pT2-3, grade 3, vascular invasion); and (3) those with lymph node metastases after lymphadenectomy. Good candidates for less-stringent surveillance include patients with low-risk primary tumors (pTis, pTa, pT1, grades 1-2) and those with negative inguinal nodes after lymphadenectomy whose primary tumors were managed with partial or total penectomy.