Human papillomavirus (HPV) coinfection with other sexually transmitted infections in patients of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at the Medical University of Warsaw

Abstract

Introduction. Infections with the genital types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are usually eliminated by the immune system within 6-18 months. Other concurrent sexually transmitted infections may be one of the factors contributing to the infection and its longer persistence. Objective. To assess the prevalence of HPV and coinfections with other sexually transmitted infections. Material and methods. Forty women with at least one sexually transmitted infection and 45 women from the control group were examined. For gonorrhea and chlamydial infection diagnostics, culture and direct immunofluorescence were applied, respectively. In parallel, both infections were diagnosed using real-time PCR. Syphilis was diagnosed using serological tests VDRL and FTA-ABS tests, and HIV infection with enzymatic immunoassay. Real-time PCR was used to detect HPV6, 11, 16 and 18. Results. HPV infection was found in 60% of women in the study group and 42.22% in the control group. HPV16 infection was diagnosed in 58.3% of women infected with C. trachomatis, 57.9% with gonorrhea, 16.7% with syphilis and 26.7% of women in the control group. The percentage of those infected with two types of HPV in the study group was 22.5%, and 13.33% in the control group. A relationship was found between HPV16 infection and gonorrhea and chlamydial infection and between gonorrhea and infection with two different types of HPV. Conclusions. The obtained results indicate the influence of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae infections on the persistence of oncogenic HPV infections, which may lead to an increased risk of developing pre-cancerous lesions.