Association of penile lichen sclerosus and oncogenic human papillomavirus infection.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in patients with penile lichen sclerosus (LS) are scant and controversial.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of HPV infections in patients with penile LS.

METHODS: HPV infection was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in paraffin-embedded penile biopsies obtained from the glans or inner foreskin of 46 adult patients with penile LS, and in brush cytology smears of penile healthy mucosa from an equal number of randomly selected control males matched for age. Statistical evaluation was performed using conditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: PCR disclosed the presence of HPV infection in 17.4% of LS patients (HPV 16, six cases; HPV 18, one case; HPV 45, one case). Amongst the controls, HPV infection occurred in 8.7% of patients (HPV 16, two cases; HPV 53, one case; HPV 70, one case). Statistical regression analysis confirmed that the rate of HPV infection was higher amongst patients with genital LS than amongst healthy controls [odds ratio (OR), 2.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.73-8.89].

CONCLUSIONS: Infection with oncogenic "high-risk" HPV types in patients with genital LS may enhance the risk of penile cancer arising on LS.