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Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

11. Prevalence of anal high risk human papilloma virus (hr-HPV) infection and cytological

Sumanth Gandra A , Aline Azar B , Nisha Kini C , Bruce Barton C and Mireya Wessolossky A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, USA.

B Division of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, USA.

C Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, USA.

Sexual Health 10(6) 575-575 https://doi.org/10.1071/SHv10n6ab11
Published: 22 November 2013

Abstract

Background: Although anal HPV infection and cytological abnormalities are highly prevalent among HIV-infected MSM patients, there is limited data on HIV-infected heterosexual men and women. Since November 2010 at our clinic, anal cancer screening with both hr-HPV and cytology was routinely performed in all HIV-infected patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anal hr-HPV infection and cytological abnormalities among our cohort of HIV-infected MSM, heterosexual men and women. We also evaluated the performance of hr-HPV and abnormal cytology in detecting high-grade dysplasia (AIN2+). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in HIV patients who underwent routine screening for anal cancer from January 2011 to January 2013. The hr-HPV test is done concomitantly on an anal cytology specimen using the Hybrid Capture 2 assay (Digene Corporation). Medical records of patients who underwent high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) because of abnormal cytology (ASCUS and above) or positive hr-HPV were reviewed. Results: A total of 221 HIV patients underwent screening with both hr-HPV and anal cytology. Among them, 67% were men (73% MSM vs 27% heterosexual). hr-HPV was positive in 43% (54% MSM, 28% non-MSM and 27% women). Anal cytology was abnormal in 39% (48% MSM, 28% non-MSM and 34% of women). Among 117 (53%) patients with an abnormal screening test, 27% had both hr-HPV infection and abnormal cytology, 14% had only hr-HPV infection and 13% had only abnormal cytology. Cytology results were normal in 50%, non-diagnostic in 10%, ASCUS in 23%, LSIL in 14% and HSIL in 2%. Among 68 HIV patients who underwent HRA because of either abnormal anal cytology or hr-HPV infection, 22 patients had AIN2+ (17 were MSM) and all had hr-HPV. None of 14 patients with negative hr-HPV who underwent HRA for abnormal cytology had AIN2+. Paired results of cytology and biopsy did not correlate (rs = –0.13). Conclusions: Anal hr-HPV infection, cytological abnormalities and AIN2+ are prevalent among our cohort of HIV-infected heterosexual men and women. We suggest anal cancer screening for all HIV-infected patients. In our limited sample, hr-HPV performed better than anal cytology in detecting and ruling out AIN2+.