Sustained viral suppression and higher CD4+ T-cell count reduces the risk of persistent cervical high-risk human papillomavirus infection in HIV-positive women

J Infect Dis. 2013 Jun 1;207(11):1723-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit090. Epub 2013 Mar 5.

Abstract

Background: Studies analyzing the impact of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on cervical infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) have generated conflicting results. We assessed the long-term impact of cART on persistent cervical HR-HPV infection in a very large cohort of 652 women who underwent follow-up of HIV infection for a median duration of 104 months.

Methods: Prospective cohort of HIV-infected women undergoing HIV infection follow-up who had HR-HPV screening and cytology by Papanicolaou smear performed yearly between 2002 and 2011.

Results: At baseline, the median age was 38 years, the race/ethnic origin was sub-Sarahan Africa for 84%, the median CD4(+) T-cell count was 426 cells/µL, 79% were receiving cART, and the HR-HPV prevalence was 43%. The median interval of having had an HIV load of <50 copies/mL was 40.6 months at the time of a HR-HPV-negative test result, compared with 17 months at the time of a HR-HPV-positive test result (P < .0001, by univariate analysis). The median interval of having had a CD4(+) T-cell count of >500 cells/µL was 18.4 months at the time of a HR-HPV-negative test result, compared with 4.45 months at the time of a HR-HPV-positive test result (P < .0001). In multivariate analysis, having had an HIV load of <50 copies/mL for >40 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], .76-.86; P < .0001) and having had a CD4(+) T-cell count of >500 cells/µL for >18 months (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, .82-.94; P = .0002) were associated with a significantly decreased risk of HR-HPV infection.

Conclusion: Sustained HIV suppression for >40 months and a sustained CD4(+) T-cell count of >500 cells/µL for >18 months are independently and significantly associated with a decreased risk of persistent cervical HR-HPV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Africa South of the Sahara
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification
  • Papillomaviridae / pathogenicity
  • Papillomavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents