Fifty-nine were homosexuals (35
Fifty-nine were homosexuals (35.1%), earlier or present intravenous drug use was known from 60 men (35,7%) and blood products were the source of HIV-infection in 8 men (4,7%). individuals experienced HPV-associated carcinomas, in all of them HPV-16 antibodies were detected. Drug use and imply CD4-cell counts on the day of serologic screening experienced no influence on HPV-IgG antibody prevalence, as experienced prior antiretroviral therapy or medical category of HIV-disease. Conclusion High risk HPV-antibodies in HIV-infected and homosexual males suggest a continuous RR6 exposure to HPV-proteins throughout the course of their HIV illness, reflecting the Lepr known improved risk for anogenital malignancies in these populations. The considerable increase of high risk antibodies (compared to low risk antibodies) in HIV-positive individuals cannot be explained by variations in exposure history only, but suggests problems of the immunological control of oncogenic HPV-types. HPV-serology is definitely economic and may detect past or present HPV-infection, individually of an anatomical region. Therefore HPV-serology could help to better understand the natural history of anogenital HPV-infection in HIV-positive males in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Keywords: AIDS, human being papillomavirus, serology Background Venereal diseases, sexual promiscuity and receptive anal intercourse are associated with an increased risk for anal malignancy. Particularly, in HIV-infected individuals an alarming increase of HPV-associated malignancies has to be expected [1-3]. Recent data from the US AIDS-cancer registry reveal for men and women with HIV-infection 6.8 and 37 occasions greater relative risks for anal malignancy compared to respective control populations. It appears, that potent antiretroviral therapy offers limited effect in inducing regression of HPV-lesions and HPV-DNA tends to persist in the anorectal canal [4]. Progression from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) to malignancy may take as long as 10 or more years in HIV-seronegative individuals. Therefore it is hypothesised, that in the era of antiretroviral therapy the incidence of anogenital malignancy in HIV-positive individuals will increase as result of prolonging survival combined with prolonged deviations of the immune system. A breakthrough in the prophylaxis of cervical malignancy has been achieved by intro of cervical cytological screening explained in the statement of Papanicolaou and Trout [5]. A 53% reduction in cervical malignancy mortality was reported in Sweden [6]. and Quinn estimated 1997 that without testing there might have been 800 more deaths in England from cervical malignancy in ladies under 55 years of age [7]. Nowadays, high risk lesions could also be recognized by detecting viral RR6 HPV-DNA in cervical smears [8]. The incidence of anal malignancy in RR6 HIV-positive males will be probably higher than the incidence of cervical malignancy prior the use of cervical cytology screening [9]. However, actually in risk organizations C such as HIV-positive homosexual males C you will find no such standard screening and management procedures founded for the anus. Program cytological screening has to await an effective proved treatment for anal intraepithelial neoplasia [10]. Antibodies to HPV capsid antigens are reliable markers for cumulative HPV exposure and have been used in prospective studies, that linked HPV illness to cancers [11]. Consequently we investigated HPV-antibodies in order to estimate the HPV-prevalence as risk element for the development of HPV-associated malignancies, particularly, in HIV-positive males. Methods HIV-positive individuals The AIDS clinic in the University or college of Innsbruck is the only centre for individuals with HIV/AIDS of the Austrian Tyrol. More than 95% of the Tyrolean AIDS-patients with AIDS reported to the health government bodies are in treatment at this clinic. One hundred and sixty-eight HIV-positive males (aged 23 to 61 years, median 43) were regularly seen at our division and sera from the year 1998 were available from all the individuals. Fifty-nine were homosexuals (35.1%), earlier or present intravenous drug use was known from 60 men (35,7%) and blood products were the source of HIV-infection RR6 in 8 men.