Dual infection with human papillomavirus in a population with overt genital condylomas.

BACKGROUND

Multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes have been demonstrated in individual patients; usually, different genotypes occur in different anatomic sites.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of multiple HPV types from the same anatomic site.

METHODS

During the course of a study evaluating topical versus ablative therapy for external genital HPV, sequential biopsies on patients with external genital warts were performed. HPV DNA content was determined by Southern hybridization. Ninety-two specimens from 63 patients (48 women, 15 men) with genital warts were evaluated.

RESULTS

Dual infection with two HPV genotypes was documented in each of four specimens (6.3%). Sequential biopsy specimens from the same anatomic site in the same person revealed dual infection in 5 of 12 sampled patients (41%). Overall, 14% of patients had dual genitourinary HPV infection.

CONCLUSION

Counseling and follow-up of long-term complications, such as transmission and the risk of subsequent genitourinary carcinoma, should be performed on all patients with HPV because of the possibility of undetected HPV DNA types in the individual patient.