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Persistent HPV infection can lead to the development of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer.
Previous research has indicated that HIV-positive women face an increased risk of HPV infection, precancerous lesions, and cervical cancer compared with HIV-negative women.
Researchers analyzed data from six studies conducted from 1994 to 2010 in Senegal, where HIV is endemic. They followed 1,320 women for an average of two years, testing them for HPV and cervical abnormalities approximately every four months.
At each clinic visit, women were characterized as normal, HPV-positive, or HSIL (HPV-positive with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, a precancerous lesion that may progress to cervical cancer if untreated).
The study showed that HIV-positive women had higher rates of acquiring HPV, and lower rates of clearing HPV infection, than HIV-negative women.
Women whose immune systems were compromised by HIV were also more likely to have HPV infection progress to pre-cancer.