HPV vaccination in HIV+ adolescents and young adults induces strong HPV-specific immune responses

Abstract

Background HPV-associated ano-genital infections represent the most common sexually-transmitted disease in the general population. The incidence of HPV-associated cancers has been increasing in HIV-infected patients. HPV vaccination may be an approach to reduce the risk of HPVassociated cancers in HIV-infected patients and a combined strategy of screening and vaccination may guarantee an adequate prevention of HPV-associated lesions. Immunogenicity of HPV vaccines in HIVinfected patients is still not adequately evaluated. We analyzed immunogenicity of a quadrivalent HPV vaccine in HIV-infected patients without molecular evidence of vaccine-type HPV infection focusing on HPV-specific cell mediated immunity (CMI).