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.