[Anal condylomata acuminata in HIV positive patients]

Since July 1986 we started with following all patients with condylomata acuminata including HIV-testing and human papilloma virus (HPV) identification by DNA-DNA-hybridisation (southern blot). Seventy patients are included, 39 of them are seropositive. The ratio male to female is 59 to 11, in seropositives 35 to 4, in negatives 24 to 7. The average age is 28 and 31 years respectively. The number of homosexuals and junkies is significantly higher in seropositives. Seventeen patients are in HIV-stage II, 11 in stage III and 10 in stage IV according to CDC-classification. Characteristic for the seropositives was an extensive growth on the rectal mucosa and the very rapid growth of initially subtotally resected lesions in order to prevent stenosis. Sixty-five patients were treated by one stage radical operation with electrocauter. Surprisingly recurrency is more frequent in seronegatives, however, the lesion is much smaller in this group. A hypothesis to explain this observation is brought forward. Postoperative complications occurred only in HIV-stages III and IV. We therefore recommend single shot antibiotic prophylaxis in these patients. The HPV-identification showed no malignancy associated HPV-types in both groups but a higher incidence of HPV 11 in higher HIV-stages which we cannot explain. We conclude from our series that, if operation is indicated, one stage radical electrocoagulation of condylomata acuminata is a necessary procedure in seropositive patients and a save one in negative patients but antibiotic prophylaxis should be given in stage III and IV. Anal condylomata acuminata are a hint for possible HIV-positivity.