Risks factors and timing of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in female stem cell transplant survivors: a longitudinal study.

This longitudinal single-center study describes the timing and risk factors for genital human papillomavirus (HPV) disease in women after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Between 1994 and 2014, 109 females underwent HCT of whom 82 surviving transplant for >1 year had regular, comprehensive genital tract assessment and treatment of HPV disease. The cumulative proportions of any genital HPV infection at 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 years were 4.8%, 14.9%, 28.1%, 36.7% and 40.9%, respectively. Demographic, disease-related factors, chronic GvHD (cGvHD) and its treatment were analyzed for their association with persistent, multifocal or severe genital HPV disease. Pre-transplant HPV disease was strongly associated with any posttransplant HPV (odds ratio (OR)=6.5, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.65-25.85, P=0.008). Having either extensive or genital cGvHD was associated with increased risk of any HPV disease (OR=5.7, 95% CI=1.90-17.16, P=0.002) and a higher risk for severe genital dysplasia (CIN II-III/VIN II-III; OR=13.1, 95% CI=1.59-108.26, P=0.017), but no one developed HPV-related genital cancer. Persistent, multifocal or severe HPV disease occurred more frequently than in healthy populations. Women with extensive cGvHD, genital cGvHD or pre-transplant HPV are at greatest risk for post-transplant HPV disease. Early initiation of annual screening, comprehensive genital tract assessment and active management are cornerstones of their gynecology care.