The impact of HIV antiviral therapy on human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and HPV-related diseases.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections play an important role in the pathogenesis of anogenital cancer and its precursors. HIV-infected individuals exhibit a high prevalence of HPV DNA. Several studies have further shown that HIV-infected individuals have an increased prevalence of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) of the cervix, vulva and anus. The incidence of invasive cervical cancer is also elevated in HIV-positive women as well as that of anal cancer in HIV-positive women and men. Given the relationship between HIV-induced immunosuppression and HPV-associated disease, treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has the potential, through immune reconstitution of the host, to alter the natural history of HPV infection and SIL. However, data on the impact of HAART on HPV disease are sparse and mixed results have been reported.