Detection of HPV in genital condylomata: correlation between viral load and clinical outcome

High DNA viral load in Human Papillomavirus type 16 cervical dysplastic lesions has been proposed as a marker of progression towards malignancy. To evaluate the prognostic value of DNA viral load in infection by HPV type other than HPV-16, a longitudinal study of patients with Anogenital Condylomata (AC) was designed. The study included 40 patients, 25 men and 15 women. Clinical data were collected through standard interview and routine serum analyses. Viral type in lesions was assayed by PCR with general primers (MY09-MY11) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Viral load was determined by PCR end point determination with type specific primers on serial sample dilutions. The duration of ano-genital lesions upon liquid nitrogen standard cryotherapy or Podofillin chemotherapy was correlated with viral and clinical data. Patients with higher lesional viral load at study entry showed a markedly longer disease clinical course than patients with lower viral loads. The HPV-6 was observed in 31 out of 40 patients (77.5%), much more frequently than HPV-11 (7/40 17.5%), the latter being associated with higher titres of viral load. Two cases (5%) remained undetermined. No HPV-16 or other high-risk type was detected, while HPV-61, not uncommon in Italy, was found once in a double infection carried by an HIV positive patient. No significant association was observed between clinical outcome and demographic and epidemiological data, or risk factors.