Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women and Its Relationship with Cervical Infection

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention Vol. 14; no. 11; pp. 2550 - 2556
• Main Authors: HERNANDEZ, Brenda Y, MCDUFFIE, Katharine, BOYD, Jamie, SUNOO, Christian, KAMEMOTO, Lori, GOODMAN, Marc T, XUEMEI ZHU, WILKENS, Lynne R, KILLEEN, Jeffrey, KESSEL, Bruce, WAKABAYASHI, Mark T, BERTRAM, Cathy C, EASA, David, NING, Lily
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Association for Cancer Research 01.11.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; anus; Anus Diseases - complications; Anus Diseases - epidemiology; Anus Diseases - virology; Anus Neoplasms - etiology; Anus Neoplasms - virology; Biological and medical sciences; cervix; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; DNA, Viral - analysis; Female; Hawaii - epidemiology; Human papillomavirus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae - pathogenicity; papillomavirus; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Tumors; Uterine Cervical Diseases - complications; Uterine Cervical Diseases - epidemiology; Uterine Cervical Diseases - virology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the genital and urinary system; Hawaii; Polynesia; Oceania; Human; Sexual intercourse; Papovaviridae; Uterine cervix; Female genital diseases; Papillomavirus; Virus; Infection; Human papillomavirus; Cancerology; Anus; Cohort study; Viral disease; Risk factor; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Adult; Female; Anorectal disease; Uterine cervix diseases; Public health; Sodomy
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755
• DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-05-0460

Human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer, is also associated with the development of anal cancer. Relatively little is known about the epidemiology of anal HPV infection among healthy females and its relationship to cervical infection. We sought to characterize anal HPV infection in a cohort of adult women in Hawaii. Overall, 27% (372 of 1,378) of women were positive for anal HPV DNA at baseline compared with 29% (692 of 2,372) with cervical HPV DNA. Among women with paired anal and cervical samples, anal infection without accompanying cervical infection was observed in 14% (190 of 1,363). Concurrent anal and cervical HPV infections were observed in 13% (178 of 1,363) of women. Women with cervical HPV infection had >3-fold increased risk of concurrent anal infection. Concurrent anal and cervical HPV infection was most prevalent among the youngest women and steadily decreased through age 50 years. By contrast, the prevalence of anal infection alone remained relatively steady in all age groups. Compared with cervical infections, the overall distribution of HPV genotypes in the anus was more heterogeneous and included a greater proportion of nononcogenic types. A high degree of genotype-specific concordance was observed among concurrent anal and cervical infections, indicating a common source of infection. Nevertheless, the association of anal intercourse with anal HPV infection was limited to those women without accompanying cervical infection. The relationship of anal to cervical infection as described in this study has implications for the development of anal malignancies in women.