A correlation exists between premalignant & malignant lesions and oncogenic Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types. Segregation of HPV DNA has been accomplished from 46-100% of in situ & invasive Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCCs) of the anus. Epidemiologic studies exhibit that up to 93% of anal SCCs are linked to HPV infection. The objective of this study is to compare the Anal High Risk (HR)–HPV infection between men & women within the Puerto Rican (PR) population, regardless of sexual orientation or lifestyle. Emphasized focus will prevail on HPV genotypes 16, 18 & 45, due to a shown tendency by PR medical professionals, to request analysis for these particular types.
337 anal Pap smear samples were collected from several medical clinics in PR from years 2013-2015. Samples were submitted through the following techniques: PCR analysis with Cobas® HPV Test & Aptima® HPV Assay, to identify HR-HPV genotypes; & through Flow Cytometry (FC) with HPV OncoProbe®, in order to detect the presence of viral activity.
131 women were tested for HR-HPV: 4 were positive for HPV-16; 10 were positive for HPV-18: & 75 were positive for an unknown HR-HPV genotype. 206 men were tested for HR-HPV: 20 were positive for HPV-16; 9 were positive for HPV-18; & 38 were positive for an unknown HR-HPV genotype.
46% of the PR general population showed positive results for Anal HR-HPV infection. Distinctively, PR women seem to have a higher rate of Anal HR-HPV infection, with a 68% of female cases being positive for HPV-16, 18 or an unknown HR genotype. PR men are affected, but at a lesser rate of Anal HR-HPV infection, with a 33% of male cases being positive for HPV-16, 18 or an unknown HR genotype. Further analysis is necessary to identify the unknown HR genotypes, which are currently affecting the general PR population.
1] Colón-López, V. et al. (2014). Epidemiology of Anal HPV Infection in HR Men Attending a Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic in PR. PLoS ONE, 9(1), e83209. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083209.