Persistence of High Peripheral Activated CD8+ T-cells and Not a Low CD4:CD8 Ratio Predict cytologic HPV-Related Dysplasia in cART-Treated, HIV-Positive Subjects

Human papillomavirus in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus: association with viral load and lymphocyte count

Women living with human immunodeficiency virus are at an increased risk of developing cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV). Thus, it is important to combine clinical assessments, serological screening, and HPV data for planning prevention policies. This study aimed to identify HPV and its specific types in the cervical, anal, and oral mucosa of HIV-seropositive women, associating it with viral load and lymphocyte count. Sociodemographic characteristics, health data (CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and viral load), and biological samples (cervical, anal, and oral) were collected from 86 HIV-positive women undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Data were classified according to the presence or absence of HPV-DNA, HPV-DNA presence at one or more anatomic sites, and level of oncogenic risk, considering low- and high-risk oncogenic HPV-DNA groups. The presence of HPV in the cervicovaginal site was 65.9%, 63.8% in anal canal, and 4.2% in oral mucosa. A viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL was associated with the presence of HPV-DNA. There was an association between viral load and the low-risk HPV or high-risk HPV groups. We found a high prevalence of HPV infection in HIV-seropositive women, particularly in the cervical and anal mucosa, with viral load ≥75 HIV copies/mL being associated with HPV-DNA presence.

A systematic review on the molecular and clinical association between Human Papillomavirus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus co-infection in Head, Neck and Oral squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck cancer, one of the most commonly prevalent malignancies globally is a complex category of tumours that comprises cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. A specific subgroup of such cancers has been found with some unique chromosomal, therapeutic, and epidemiologic traits with the possibility of affecting via co-infection. About 25% of all head and neck cancers in the population are human papillomavirus infection (HPV)-associated, typically developing in the oropharynx, which comprises the tonsils. In the period of efficient combined antiviral treatment, HPV-positive oral cancers are also becoming a significant contributor to illness and fatality for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected persons. Although the prevalence and historical background of oral HPV transmission are not thoroughly understood, it seems likely that oral HPV transmission is relatively frequent in HIV-infected people when compared to the overall population. Therefore, there is a need to understand the mechanisms leading to this co-infection, as there is very little research related to that. Hence, this study mainly focus on the therapeutical and biomedical analysis of HPV and HIV co-infection in the above-mentioned cancer, including oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Cervical Epithelial Abnormalities and Associated Factors among HIV-Infected Women in Lagos, Nigeria: A Cytology-Based Study

INTRODUCTION

As it may not be feasible to provide cervical cancer screening services to all HIV-infected women in most resource-limited settings, there is a need to identify those who are most at risk. We determined the prevalence, patterns, and associated factors of cervical cytological abnormalities among HIV-infected women in Lagos, Nigeria.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-infected women at the adult HIV treatment and colposcopy clinics of a university teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, between October 2018 and December 2019. A cervical sample was collected from each woman to detect cervical cytological abnormalities.

RESULTS

Of the 593 enrolled women, cervical cytological abnormalities were present in 40 (6.7%). Most (37.5%) of the women with cytological abnormalities had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Age at coitarche (<20 vs. ≥20 years: adjusted odds ratio, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-4.83, p = 0.01) was the only factor that was independently associated with cervical epithelial abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of cervical cytological abnormalities in our study is lower than most previous reports in Africa. Sexual debut at an early age was significantly associated with cytological abnormalities. It is necessary to confirm the findings of this study through a well-designed and adequately powered longitudinal study.