[Management of HPV-induced cervical lesions in immunosuppressed patients - Review of the literature]

Introduction: Current French recommendations for the management of cervical lesions related to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection are limited to general population. Patients who are immunocompromised appear to be at increased risk of induced HPV lesions. The objective of this review is to summarize the various existing data about risk of induced HPV lesions in immunocompromised patients to specify the management.

Methods: The Medline database was searched through the Pubmed portal, as well as the recommendations of various international learned societies.

Results: Situations with an increased risk are regardless of treatment: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, transplants, lupus. Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk only when immunosuppressive therapy is required. Screening for dysplasic intraepithelial lesions in HIV+ patients should be more sustained than in the general population. Due to lack of data, recommendations for other conditions have been extrapolated from the management of HIV+ patients. HPV vaccination is effective in these populations, particularly at times when the immune system is the most effective.

Discussion: Identified immunocompromised populations are at higher risk of induced HPV lesions due to an incomplete immune response and should be screened on a sustained basis. In addition, HPV vaccination should be encouraged.