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. 2022 Jan 1;49(1):55-58.
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001516.

The Role of External Genital Lesions in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seroconversion Among Men Participating in a Multinational Study

Staci L Sudenga  1 , Sarah C Lotspeich  2 , Alan G Nyitray  3 , Bradley Sirak  4 , Bryan E Shepherd  2 , Jane Messina  4 , Karen A Sereday  4 , Roberto Carvalho Silva  5 , Martha Abrahamsen  4 , Maria Luiza Baggio  6 , Manuel Quiterio  7 , Eduardo Lazcano-Ponce  7 , Luisa Villa  6 , Anna R Giuliano  4
Affiliations

The Role of External Genital Lesions in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seroconversion Among Men Participating in a Multinational Study

Staci L Sudenga et al. Sex Transm Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Studies in women have shown an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition with prior human papilloma virus (HPV) infection; however, few studies have been conducted among men. Our objective was to assess whether HPV-related external genital lesions (EGLs) increase risk of HIV seroconversion among men.

Methods: A total of 1379 HIV-negative men aged 18 to 70 years from the United States, Mexico, and Brazil were followed for up to 7 years and underwent clinical examination for EGLs and blood draws every 6 months. Human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion was assessed in archived serum. Cox proportional hazards and marginal structural models assessed the association between EGL status and time to HIV seroconversion.

Results: Twenty-nine participants HIV seroconverted during follow-up. Older age was associated with a lower hazard of HIV seroconversion. We found no significant difference in the risk of HIV seroconversion between men with and without EGLs (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-2.74). Stratified analyses focusing on men that have sex with men found no association between EGLs and HIV seroconversion risk (hazards ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.00-1.86).

Conclusions: External genital lesions were not associated with higher risk for HIV seroconversion in this multinational population, although statistical power was limited as there were few HIV seroconversions. Results may differ in populations at higher risk for HIV.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest and Sources of Funding: A.R.G., L.L.V., and E.L.P. are members of the Merck Advisory Board. S.L.S. received a grant (IISP53280) from Merck Investigator Initiated Studies Program. No conflicts of interest were declared for any of the remaining authors.

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