HPV vaccination as preventive approach for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis - a 22-year retrospective clinical analysis

Abstract

Background: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare, benign disease of the aerodigestive tract, especially the larynx, caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 or 11. Current management focuses on surgical debulking with microdebrider of papillomatous lesions with or without concurrent adjuvant therapy, e.g. Cidofovir®. This retrospective study evaluates the results of patients treated at a department of the university clinic between 1990 and 2012 and compares the results of the conventional treatment with a new treatment approach using adjuvant vaccination with Gardasil®. Methods: A retrospective Kaplan Maier analysis of n=24 patients diagnosed and treated with RPR was performed. The records were reviewed for gender, age at the time of first manifestation of disease and time to recurrence. Results: Only n=2 (15.4%) of the n=13 vaccinated patients developed a recurrence of the disease after a mean time of 54.9months (SD: 9.5months). All patients who were not vaccinated (n=11; 100%) developed a relapse after a mean time of 12.3months (SD: 9.72months). Conclusion: We propose that adjuvant HPV vaccination with Gardasil® might have a preventive effect in RRP by occluding new papilloma formation.