Human papillomavirus infection and anogenital condyloma in bone marrow transplant recipients

Secondary malignant diseases are late complications after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Anogenital lesions associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection have been described in renal transplant recipients but not after BMT. HPV types 16 and 18 are strongly linked to the malignant transformation.

In a series of 238 patients with allogeneic BMT, three had anogenital lesions. We looked for HPV in DNA extracted from embedded tissue to study HPV genotypes, p53 expression, and ploidy.

In two patients, HPV sequences were detected. One of them, with giant condyloma, had HPV type 18 and two aneuploid clones, but p53 expression was not found.

As in solid organ transplant recipients, anogenital condyloma may develop after BMT. Because the oncoprotein of HPV is able to bind and to degrade p53, it may lead to genetic instability, and subsequently to malignant transformation.