HPV Virus Scientific Research - Risks

Smith EM, Ritchie JM, Galask R, Pugh EE, Jia J, Ricks-McGillan J. Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. elaine-smith@uiowa.edu

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) associated with genital infections in a case-control study. METHODS: Diagnosed cases with VVS (n = 69) and age-frequency-matched healthy controls (n = 65) were enrolled from gynecology clinics in a university medical hospital during 1999. They were compared for potential risk factors and symptoms of disease. RESULTS: VVS cases had a significantly higher risk of physician-reported bacterial vaginosis (BV) (odds ratio, OR = 9.4), Candida albicans (OR = 5.7), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (OR = 11.2), trichomoniasis (OR = 20.6), and vulvar dysplasia (OR = l5.7) but no risk associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), ASCUS, cervical dysplasia, genital warts, chlamydia, genital herpes or gonorrhea. Genital symptoms reported significantly more often with VVS included vulvar burning (91 vs. 12%), dyspareunia (81 vs. 15%), vulvar itching (68 vs. 23%) and dysuria (54 vs. 19%) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: A history of genital infections is associated with an increased risk of VVS. Long-term follow-up case-control studies are needed to elucidate etiologic mechanisms, methods for prevention and effective treatment.

MMW Fortschr Med. 2003 Jan 30;145(5):36-8.

Hormone disorders and HPV infection. Risk factors for tumors of the urethra?

HPV Virus Scientific Research - Article in German

Overall, epithelial growths in the urethra are rare, and present as benign or malignant lesions at different periods of life; their incidence varies between the sexes. Among the benign urethral growths, condylomata in younger men, and urethral caruncles in elderly women are relatively common. In contrast, cancer of the urethra is relatively rare and shows a clear predilection for female sex (4:1). In patients with persistent urethral and urination problems, with or without macrohematuria, the rare urethral carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnostic considerations, in particular in elderly patients. Only when cancer is suspected early on and confirmed endoscopically and histologically, thus allowing rapid initiation of urological-oncological therapy, is there a good chance of a cure.

Virus Res. 2002 Dec;90(1-2):113-8.

Novel cellular interacting partners of the human papillomavirus 16 transcription/replication factor E2.

Boner W, Morgan IM. Department of Veterinary Pathology, Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are causative agents in a number of human diseases. HPV can be divided into two groups: low risk that cause diseases such as genital warts, and high risk that cause ano-genital cancers. Of the high-risk group, HPV16 is the most commonly found in cervical cancer. All HPV encode an E2 protein and this protein regulates transcription from, and replication of, the viral genome making it essential for the viral life cycle. In order to function E2 must interact with cellular proteins; identification of these cellular partners will provide targets for disruption of the viral life cycle and will also provide insights into the processes of transcription and replication. To identify the cellular interacting partners for HPV16 E2, we carried out a yeast two-hybrid screen with the amino-terminus of E2 that is essential for mediating transcription and replication. Here we describe how this screen was carried out and detail the interacting partners that were identified; these include the proteins TopBP1, RACK1, POMP, p27(BBP), ODC antizyme, and Delta-adaptin. Several of these partners have characteristics that make them ideal candidates for mediating E2 function.

Sex Transm Dis. 2002 Nov;29(11):725-35.

Do condoms prevent genital HPV infection, external genital warts, or cervical neoplasia? A meta-analysis.

Manhart LE, Koutsky LA. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

BACKGROUND: Although condoms most likely prevent HIV infection, evidence of their effectiveness against other sexually transmitted diseases is mixed. GOAL: The goal of the study was to determine whether condom use prevents genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-related conditions. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a literature review and meta-analysis of the effect of condom use on the prevention of genital warts, subclinical HPV infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and invasive cervical cancer (ICC). RESULTS: Among 27 estimates from 20 studies, there was no consistent evidence that condom use reduces the risk of becoming HPV DNA-positive. However, risk for genital warts, CIN of grade II or III (CIN II or III), and ICC was somewhat reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Available data are too inconsistent to provide precise estimates. However, they suggest that while condoms may not prevent HPV infection, they may protect against genital warts, CIN II or III, and ICC.

Ugeskr Laeger. 2002 Sep 9;164(37):4287-90.

Oral focal epithelial hyperplasia. Any risk of confusion with oral condylomas?

HPV Virus Scientific Research - Article in Danish

INTRODUCTION: Focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH) is a disease of the oral mucosa caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) types 13 and 32. It is not very common in Denmark and thus not well known to most physicians. It is rarely seen in Caucasians, but in other parts of the world, especially in the southeast Mediterranean countries, among the native Indians of South and Central America, and in Eskimos the disease is rather common. FEH presents with exophytic lesions of the oral mucosa and may be rather easily confused with papillomas or condylomas, and therefore perhaps give rise to the suspicion of sexual abuse in children. We describe easy ways of making an accurate diagnosis of FEH and other HPV-related diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present five patients who were diagnosed with FEH by in situ hybridisation on biopsies or by conducting PCR with HPV type-specific consensus primers followed by analysis of the restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: FEH could be diagnosed in all five patients by the two procedures described. In three cases, both methods were applied and gave identical results. Three patients were infected with HPV type 32 and two patients with HPV type 13. Co-infection with more than one HPV type was not found. DISCUSSION: Many physicians rarely encounter FEH, and will thus have difficulty in reaching an accurate diagnosis. In doubtful cases, oral papillomatous or exophytic lesions should be subjected to HPV typing. When suspicion of oral condylomas is raised, particularly in children, accurate diagnosis is necessary to rule out suspected sexual abuse. Viral DNA for HPV typing can be easily obtained, simply by scraping the lesion.

Sex Transm Infect. 2002 Jun;78(3):215-8.

Risk factors for genital HPV DNA in men resemble those found in women: a study of male attendees at a Danish STD clinic.

Svare EI, Kjaer SK, Worm AM, Osterlind A, Meijer CJ, van den Brule AJ. Danish Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Copenhagen. svare@cancer.dk

OBJECTIVES: Genital infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. The male sexual partner is supposed to be the vector of the infection. However, the knowledge of risk factors for genital HPV DNA in men is limited. The objective of this paper is to study the risk factors for HPV infection in men and to compare them with those found in women, including the study of whether there are different risk profiles for oncogenic and non-oncogenic HPV types. METHODS: From a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in Denmark, 216 men were consecutively included. A personal interview was done and material for genital HPV DNA detection was obtained with swabs. HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Odds ratios (OR) for HPV as well as for oncogenic and non-oncogenic types separately were computed with a 95% confidence interval (CI) by means of unconditional multiple logistic regresssion. RESULTS: The most important predictors of any HPV were lifetime number of sex partners (OR = 4.3; 95% CI 1.4 to 13.1 for 25-39 v 1-9 partners), young age, and being uncircumcised. The most important risk factor for oncogenic HPV types was lifetime number of partners, whereas number of partners in the past year and ever having genital warts were risk factors for the non-oncogenic HPV types. Young age predicted risk of both oncogenic and non-oncogenic HPV types. CONCLUSIONS: Most risk factors for HPV DNA detection in men resemble those found in women. As in women, the risk factor profile for the oncogenic HPV types was different from that of the non-oncogenic HPV types.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Sep;47(3):351-7.

Penile lesions and human papillomavirus in male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Bleeker MC, Hogewoning CJ, Van Den Brule AJ, Voorhorst FJ, Van Andel RE, Risse EK, Starink TM, Meijer CJ. Department of Pathology, Section Molecular Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Genital human papillomavirus infection (HPV) is causally associated with cervical carcinomas and premalignant lesions. Limited information is available about the prevalence of HPV and penile lesions in male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the presence of penile lesions and HPV in penile scrapings from male sexual partners of women with CIN. METHODS: One hundred seventy-five male sexual partners of women with CIN were screened by peniscopy after acetowhite staining and HPV testing on penile scrapings. RESULTS: Penile lesions were seen in 68% of the male sexual partners. More than one lesion type was diagnosed in 15%. Flat lesions, papular lesions, and condylomata acuminata were seen in 83%, 29%, and 4%, respectively. HPV was detected in 59% of the penile scrapings, containing mainly oncogenic HPV types. When penile lesions were present at peniscopy, 67% of penile scrapings were positive for HPV, whereas 37% were HPV-positive when no lesions were visible. CONCLUSIONS: Penile lesions are frequently found in sexual partners of women with CIN. Most of these lesions are subclinical (ie, only visible after acetowhite staining) and are often associated with the presence of high-risk HPV, indicating that male sexual partners of women with CIN might constitute a reservoir for high-risk HPV.

HPV Virus Scientific Research - HPV Risks Links

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