A longitudinal study of human papillomavirus DNA detection in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-seropositive and -seronegative women

Cervicovaginal lavage samples from 124 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive and 126 HIV-1-seronegative women were collected monthly for 8 months and tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. The estimated prevalence of HPV was 42.8% in HIV-1-seropositive and 13.4% in -seronegative women (P < .00l). There was no significant difference in HPV DNA detection in HIV-1-seropositive women with CD4 cell counts of <300/mm3 (50% HPV-positive), 300–499/mm3 (36.4% HPV-positive), or ⩾500/mm3 (40.5% HPV-positive). However, HIV-1-seropositive women who were more immunocompromised, as indicated by lower CD4 cell counts, were more likely to shed HPV persistently. The quantity of HPV DNA detected in cervicovaginal lavage samples was similar in HIV-1-seropositive and -seronegative women. This study further defined the characteristics of HPV infections in HIV-1-infected women.