HIV treatment

HIV and hepatitis C

HIV and human papilloma virus (HPV)

The virus that causes anal and genital warts is called human papilloma virus (HPV). Certain strains of this virus can cause cell changes that lead to anal and cervical cancer (and very rarely penile cancer as well).

A lot of people with HIV have anal or genital warts and rates of anal and cervical cancer are higher amongst people with HIV than in the general population.

New Italian research shows that HIV-positive men are more likely to have anal infection with HPV than HIV-negative men. But almost all the gay men in the study (including HIV-negative gay men) had anal HPV infection.

The genetic material (DNA) of HPV was more likely to be found in HIV-positive men than those who were HIV-negative. They also found that HPV viral load was higher in people with HIV. The researchers think this could mean that infection with HPV would last longer in people with HIV and be more likely to cause cell changes.

HIV-positive men (48%) were more likely than HIV-negative men (33%) to have anal infection with the strains of HPV that have a high risk of causing pre-cancerous and cancerous cell changes.

The researchers recommend that HIV-positive men with anal warts should have regular monitoring from their clinic. 

International HIV treatment survey