Cervical human papillomavirus infection in the early postoperative period after liver transplantation: Prevalence,risk factors,and concordance with anal infections

Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing several human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related malignancies, including cervical and anal cancers. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the initial prevalence and risk factors for high‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) cervical infections in liver transplant recipients, as well as their concordance with anal infections. A total of 50 female patients were enrolled in the Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery at the Medical University of Warsaw (center with >1600 liver transplantations). The initial prevalence of cervical HR‐HPV infection was 10.0% (5/50). The only significant risk factor for cervical HR‐HPV infection was ≥4 lifetime sexual partners (P=.037). Statistical tendencies toward higher prevalence of cervical HR‐HPV infections were found for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV, P=.082) and with model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score ≤8 (P=.064). Cervical cytology was abnormal in 10 patients, including three with HR‐HPV. Out of 12 patients with available data on anal HR‐HPV, one had concordant HPV 16 infection. In conclusion, the initial prevalence of high‐risk HPV infection is relatively low, except for patients with ≥4 previous sexual partners and potentially in those with HBV and/or low MELD score.