Health News
2005-08-11
HPV boosts HIV
infection risks
A study presented
at the Third International AIDS Society Conference on
HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment shows that infection with one
o
A study presented
at the Third International AIDS Society Conference on
HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment shows that infection with one
or more strains of the human papillomavirus can
dramatically increase HIV infection risks, in some
cases more than tripling the chances of acquiring HIV,
AIDSmap.com reports. A three-year study of HIV-negative
gay men in Boston, Denver, New York City, and San Francisco
showed that 81% of the men who became infected with
HIV during the study period were coinfected with HPV;
about half of the men who remained HIV-negative
contracted HPV. The researchers determined that infection
with one HIV subtype doubled HIV infection risk; two
subtypes multiplied HIV risk by 2.4 times; and three
or more subtypes more than tripled HIV risk.
Men infected with
HPV who also became infected with HIV were much more
likely to have abnormal anal squamous cells than those not
coinfected with HIV, according to the study. These
cells are commonly found in HPV-associated lesions in
the anus, and researchers say these lesions may serve
as portals for HIV to enter the body.
The study also
showed that crystal methamphetamine use and unprotected
anal sex significantly boosted the chances for both HPV and
HIV infections. Crystal meth use multiplied HIV
infection risks by 6.8 times, according to the study.
HPV has been
linked to virtually all cases of cervical cancer in women
and cases of anal cancer in both sexes. HPV also can cause
genital or anal warts. Some studies have shown that
about half of all sexually active gay men carry the
virus and that as many as 90% of HIV-positive gay men
are coinfected with HPV.
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