Anal HR-HPV prevalence assessed with the cobas® HPV Test in an HIV-infected population of men who have sex with men.

Background: Anal squamous cell cancer is an HPV associated disease, highly prevalent in HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). We evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection in an HIV-positive MSM population attending our hospital. Cytological results are correlated with an HR-HPV genotype.

Methods: From February 2013 to July 2014, 95 anal Thin Prep cytologies and 17 histological specimens were evaluated in 89 HIV-infected MSM. HPV detection (cobas® HPV Test) was done in 78 patients. Patients with a positive cytological result were biopsied according to the recommendations of the European Society for Medical Oncology Clinical Practical Guidelines. The STATVIEW statistical computer program was used.

Results: The mean age was 37 years. Cytological results: 40% - NILM, 17.9% - ASCUS, 24.2% - LSIL, 4.2% - HSIL and 1.1% - AGC. The overall prevalence of HR-HPV was of 80.8%. In 76.9% of the cases, infection occurred with multiple HR-HPV genotypes. The "other" HR-HPV pattern was the most prevalent HR-HPV genotype. Considering age, HPV-16 prevalence was 50.0% and 28.6% in patients under and over 30 years, respectively. A histological specimen was obtained from 17 patients and 82.4% of them had AIN.

Conclusions: 1 - HIV-infected MSM is a highly HR-HPV genotype infected population; 2 - The multiple infection pattern was the most prevalent; 3 - "Other", an HPV subtype was the most prevalent pattern; 4 - The prevalence of HPV infection and multiplicity of infection was directly related to the severity of the cytological abnormalities and age; 5 - HPV-16 prevalence was more prevalent in patients under 30 years.