HPV and HIV Coinfection in Women from a Southeast Region of Romania—PICOPIV Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Romania faces one of the highest cervical cancer burdens in Europe though it is a preventable cancer through population screening by cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) detection. Also, it has one of the highest incidences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HPV and HIV coinfection are frequently encountered. The aim of study was to establish the prevalence of HPV infection among HIV-positive women in Southeast Region of Romania, to genotype high risk HPV types -and to correlate the results with clinical data and cytological cervical lesions. Materials and Methods: 40 HIV-positive women were screened for HPV types and for cytological cervical lesions. The findings were evaluated in correlation with CD4 cell counts, HIV viral load, age at first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, vaginal candidiasis, and Gardnerella using statistical methods. Results: 19/40 (47.5%) women were positive for HPV types, 63.15%infected with single HPV type and 36.85%with multiple HPV types. The most frequent types were type: 31 (42.1%), 56 (31.57%), 53 (15.78%). On cytology, 34 (85%) women were found with NILM of which 38.23% were HPV-positive. Fifteen percent of women had abnormal cytology (three ASC-US, three LSIL), and all of them were HPV-positive. Through analyzing the value of CD4 count, women with CD4 count ≤200 cells/μL were found to be significantly more likely to be infected with HPV; meanwhile there was no correlation between the detection of HPV types and HIV viral load. Candida or Gardnerella were more often associated with HIV-positive women with HPV, than in women without HPV. Conclusions: Infection with HPV types is common among HIV-positive women in the Southeast Region of Romania and it is associated with age at the beginning of sexual life, number of sexual partners, CD4 value, vaginal candidiasis, and Gardnerella infection.

Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes Among HIV-Infected Women in Four States in Nigeria

“…However, the prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 were minor at 1.44% and 1.29%, respectively, with a majority (11.35%) of HPV detected being found to be in the 'other high risk' category. This discovery is similar to that found in a Romanian study of HPV-co-infected HIV women, where the most frequent genotypes were 31 (42.1%), 56 (31.57%), and 53 (15.78%) [19]. It is a bigger challenge for such co-infected women in society who are already battling with chronic HIV disease.…”

Coinfections in human papillomavirus associated cancers and prophylactic recommendations

“…However, no correlation was identified between the HPV types and HIV viral load. Moreover, coinfection of HIV and HPV indicated that the patients are more susceptible to Candida and Gardnerella than patients without HPV 32 . The increasing (three times) susceptibility of HIV patients to HPV further indicates the concomitant infection between HIV and HPV 33,34 …”

“…Moreover, coinfection of HIV and HPV indicated that the patients are more susceptible to Candida and Gardnerella than patients without HPV. 32 The increasing (three times) susceptibility of HIV patients to HPV further indicates the concomitant infection between HIV and HPV. 33,34 Genital infection caused by HSV and HPV coinfections are increasingly being reported, as the lytic virus HSV-2 has the ability to modulate the barrier providing cervical mucus, leading to heightened inflammatory immune responses.…”

CMV and HIV Coinfection in Women from a Region in Eastern Europe

“…HIV viral load was measured using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method using 7500 Fast Real TIME Systems (Applied Biosystems, Waltham, MA, USA) and Xpert HIV-1 Viral Load test reagents (Cepheid AB, Solna, Sweden) as described previously [8].…”