Abstract:
Objectives: Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with oncogenic, or “high-risk” types of human papillomaviruses,
and is the most common malignancy in Kenyan women. A longitudinal study was initiated to investigate factors associated
with persistent human papillomavirus detection among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Kenyan women without evidence
of cervical dysplasia.
Methods: Demographic/behavioral data and cervical swabs were collected from HIV-uninfected women (n=82) and HIV infected women (n=101) at enrollment and annually for 2years. Human papillomavirus typing was performed on swabs
(Roche Linear Array). Logistic regression models of human papillomavirus persistence were adjusted for demographic and
behavioral characteristics.
Results: HIV-infected women were older and less likely to be married and to own a home and had more lifetime sexual
partners than HIV-uninfected women. All HIV-infected women were receiving anti-retroviral therapy at enrollment and
had satisfactory CD4 cell counts and HIV viral loads. One- and two-year persistent human papillomavirus detection was
significantly associated with HIV infection for any human papillomavirus, high-risk human papillomavirus, International Agency
for the Research on Cancer-classified high-risk human papillomavirus, and non-oncogenic “low-risk” human papillomavirus.
Conclusion: Persistent detection of oncogenic and non-oncogenic human papillomavirus was strongly associated with
HIV infection in Kenyan women with re-constituted immune systems based on satisfactory CD4 cell counts. In addition to
HIV infection, factors associated with an increased risk of human papillomavirus persistence included a higher number of
lifetime sex partners. Factors associated with decreased risk of human papillomavirus persistence included older age and
being married. Further studies are needed to identify the immunological defects in HIV-infected women that allow human
papillomavirus persistence, even in women receiving effective anti-retroviral therapy. Further studies are also needed to
determine the significance of low-risk human papillomavirus persistence in HIV-infected women.