A vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) may benefit women with
HIV, even if they have already been exposed to HPV, according to
a study released by an NIH research network. The study,
published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
in an article titled "Prevalence and Risk Factors for HPV in
HIV-Positive Young Women Receiving Their First HPV Vaccination",
notes that more than 45% of women with HIV appear never to have
been exposed to the most common high-risk forms of HPV. That
contradicts earlier studies, which found that many women with
HIV were more likely than were women without the AIDS virus to
have conditions associated with HPV, such as precancerous
conditions of the cervix, as well as cervical cancer. "Our
results show that for a significant number of young women, HPV
vaccine can still offer benefits. This is especially important
in light of their HIV status, which can make them even more
vulnerable to HPV's effects," says the study’s first author,
Jessica Kahn, M.D., of Cincinnati