Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a common sexually transmitted infection and it is associated with development of intraepithelial lesions and cancers. Among HIV patients, men who have sex with men (MSM) are at highest risk of anal intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of anogenital HPV infection in HIV-infected MSM patients.

Methods Totally 121 MSM, newly diagnosed HIV positive and treatment-naïve patients were enrolled. All of them were screened for HPV infection. For all the patients an anal swap sample was obtained and was studied for HPV by real-time PCR.

Results Anal swabs of the patients remained negative for HPV in 44 (36.4%), while were positive in 77 (63.6%). Age, education level, alcohol, and illicit drug use were not different between the HPV-positive and –negative groups. Among 77 patients with HPV infection, 33 were typed. Type 16 was the leading one (n=18) followed by type 18 (n=7), both type 16 and type 18 (n=4), and other types (n=4).

Conclusion HIV-infected MSM patients had considerably high rate of HPV infection with high-risk types. This represents a challenge for anal cancer development. These patients should be regularly checked for the early diagnosis of precancerous lesions.

Disclosure No significant relationships.