CD4+ cell count and HIV load as predictors of size of anal warts over time in HIV-infected women

J Infect Dis. 2012 Feb 15;205(4):578-85. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir813. Epub 2012 Jan 13.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the associations between CD4(+) cell counts, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) load, and human papillomavirus "low-risk" types in noncancerous clinical outcomes. This study examined whether CD4(+) count and HIV load predict the size of the largest anal warts in 976 HIV-infected women in an ongoing cohort.

Methods: A linear mixed model was used to determine the association between size of anal wart and CD4(+) count and HIV load.

Results: The incidence of anal warts was 4.15 cases per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.83-4.77) and 1.30 cases per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.00-1.58) in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women, respectively. There appeared to be an inverse association between size of the largest anal warts and CD4(+) count at baseline; however, this was not statistically significant. There was no association between size of the largest anal warts and CD4(+) count or HIV load over time.

Conclusions: There was no evidence for an association between size of the largest anal warts and CD4(+) count or HIV load over time. Further exploration on the role of immune response on the development of anal warts is warranted in a larger study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anal Canal / pathology*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Middle Aged
  • Viral Load*
  • Warts / epidemiology
  • Warts / pathology*