Assessing urine human papillomavirus polymerase chain reaction testing as a tool for screening anal HPV infection in HIV-positive MSM

AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2012 Apr;26(4):208-13. doi: 10.1089/apc.2011.0301. Epub 2012 Feb 9.

Abstract

Multiple types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are responsible for most cervical cancers but also cause anal cancers-especially in HIV-positive patients. Furthermore, men who have sex with men (MSM) are twice as likely to develop anal cancers as non-MSM. A simple screening test for HPV infection would be useful in these patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the detection of HPV by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in urine as a marker of anal infection in MSM. The study included 52 HIV-positive MSM treated at Amiens University Hospital (Amiens, France). After obtaining informed consent, we performed an anal swab and gathered 10 mL of first-void urine. Samples were extracted and amplified in a real-time PCR. Genotypes were determined with a PapilloCheck(®) system (Greiner Bio-One, Frickenhausen, Germany). The anal test was the gold standard for calculating the characteristics of the urine test. The sensitivity of the urine test for diagnosing anal HPV infection was 15%, the specificity was 66%, the positive predictive value was 87.5%, and negative predictive value was 4.5%. The prevalence of anal HPV infection in the study population was 94%. Genotype 42 was the most common. The anal HPV viral load was significantly lower in men in a stable relationship than in single men. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between anal viral load and anal intraepithelial lesions. We conclude that urine-based HPV is a poor predictor of anal HPV infection in HIV-positive MSM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anal Canal / virology*
  • Anus Diseases / urine*
  • Anus Diseases / virology
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • France
  • HIV Seropositivity / urine*
  • HIV Seropositivity / virology
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / urine*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prevalence
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Viral Load