HPV-Oral-Lesions in a Cohort of HIV-Infected Mexican Individuals Under HAART

1Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico DF, Mexico, 2Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico DF, Mexico

Objective: To establish the prevalence and type distribution of HPV in oral wart-like lesions in HIV-infected Mexican patients, and its association with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: The present ongoing study is a prospective, observational and descriptive cohort study that included patients attending two HIV-referral centers, since July 2004, in Mexico City. Oral examinations were done previous informed consent; a punch biopsy was taken in those patients with oral wart-like lesions, considering the EC-Clearinghouse diagnostic criteria. Demographic and clinical information was registered. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect HPV-DNA by L1 consensus primers (MY09/11, GP5+/6+, LCR, E6-HPV-16 and E6-HPV-18).

Results: Of a cohort of 1056 consecutive HIV-positive males (median age 32 years), 26 presented HPV-associated oral lesions (2.5%). Nine of them (34.6%) were current smokers, and 12(46.1%) were in advanced stages of the disease. Eleven patients (42.3%) were under HAART (median time, 548 [Q1-Q3,464-810] days). HPV-DNA was amplified in 23 lesions, the most common type found was 13(9/39.1%), followed by 6 (5/21.7%). The HPV types 16,31,32 and 74 were found in one lesion each one (4.3%). The histological diagnosis in thirteen samples was “HPV-related lesion” (50%), “papilloma” in 10(38.5%) and “multifocal epithelial hyperplasia” in 3(11.5%). Nine (39.1%) of the 23 patients with amplifiable HPV-DNA were under HAART, with a median time of 588 (Q1-Q3,468-821) days.

Conclusions: Most HPV-related oral lesions in our cohort of patients are associated with low risk HPV types; probably HAART use plays a role in oral HPV infection in HIV/AIDS individuals.