genital warts
Physical and psychological effects of anogenital warts on female patients.

Persson G, Dahlof LG, Krantz I.

Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Boras Central Hospital, Sweden.

Symptoms and psychological reactions of 82 patients with anogenital warts were recorded in a descriptive study at the beginning and after treatment. A majority of the patients had substantial and longstanding symptoms like local pain, tenderness, and discharge. Anxieties about cancer and cure were common. With a mood adjective checklist, the patients were compared to 58 referents, matched for background variables. There were significant differences in experiences of pleasantness, activation, and social orientation, which suggest a conspicuous emotional effect of the disease. The clinical picture and pathology of anogenital warts are well known, but the profound impact, hitherto unknown, of the disease on women's physical and psychological well-being should also be taken into account when designing health care and prevention.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8430353&dopt=Abstract genital wart


genital warts
Modern management of genital warts in women.

Winning M.

Genital warts are common and are a sexually transmitted disease affecting all socioeconomic groups and life-styles. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are highly contagious. Genital warts are often symptomless, but occasionally cause itching, bleeding after intercourse burning and pain. Referral to a Genitourinary Medicine Clinic is recommended, where specialist treatment and counselling are available. Special care is needed with children or if the patient is pregnant. At the clinic, patients may be shown how to treat themselves at home with podophyllotoxin.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8680165&dopt=Abstract genital wart


genital warts
Clinical and virological associations between external anogenital warts and cervical HPV infection in an STD clinic population.

Law CL, Merianos A, Grace J, Rose BR, Thompson CH, Cossart YE.

STD Centre, Sydney Hospital, Australia.

To determine the significance of overt anogenital warts as indicators of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the cervix, 177 women attending a Sydney STD clinic were screened for evidence of cervical HPV infection using clinical criteria together with cytology and HPV DNA dot hybridization. HPV DNA probing was also performed on biopsies of 50 exophytic warts. A very high prevalence of both anogenital warts (40%), and of cervical HPV infection (58%) was indicated in this group of women. In the exophytic warts, HPV types 6/11 were most commonly detected, whereas the rates of detection of types 6/11 and 16/18 in the cervix were similar. Of the 87 women with evidence of cervical HPV infection, 57 (66%) had a history of either past or current overt exophytic anogenital warts; while the corresponding figure for the 90 women with no evidence of cervical infection was 45 (50%). Cytological evidence of dysplasia (CIN I-III) was detected in 13 (7%) of the cervical smears: of these, 4 were positive for HPV 16/18 only, 2 for 6/11 only and 4 for both 6/11 and 16/18.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1645205&dopt=Abstract genital wart


genital warts
A study to estimate the prevalence of upper respiratory tract papillomatosis in patients with genital warts.

Clarke J, Terry RM, Lacey CJ.

Department of Genito-urinary Medicine, General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.

Respiratory tract papillomas are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11; these HPV types are also commonly associated with genital warts (condyloma acuminata). Although most commonly seen in young children, the incidence of respiratory tract papillomas in young adults is increasing. It has been postulated that orogenital contact is the means of transmission in this age group. We performed a survey of adults with genital warts to assess the prevalence of respiratory tract papillomatosis in relation to sexual behaviour and other factors. Fifty-three adult patients (35 male, 18 female) with genital warts attending a genitourinary medicine clinic agreed to examination of the mouth and throat, including indirect laryngoscopy. Seventy per cent of the group had participated in oral sex. Two patients (3.8%) had lesions attributable to HPV infection of the oropharynx and larynx (one with laryngeal keratosis, one with papilloma of the pharynx). There was no specific risk factor identified to predict respiratory tract disease. In view of the high infectivity of genital warts, it is interesting to note the low prevalence of oropharyngeal warts in adults indulging in orogenital contact. Since malignant transformation is known in respiratory tract papillomas, we would recommend that any patient with genital warts who develops unexplained hoarseness has a specialist examination of the upper respiratory tract.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1646036&dopt=Abstract genital wart


genital warts
Detection of human papillomavirus DNA by PCR in semen from patients with and without penile warts.

Green J, Monteiro E, Bolton VN, Sanders P, Gibson PE.

Virus Reference Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratories, London, UK.

OBJECTIVES--To determine the prevalence of urethral HPV infection, as indicated by the presence of HPV DNA in semen, in males with and without penile warts. DESIGN--Prevalence study of HPV types 6/11 and 16 DNA using PCR and Southern blot hybridisation analysis of semen. SETTING--Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Blundell Street Clinic, Leeds General Infirmary and the Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) Kings' College, London. SUBJECTS--Patients attending the Genitourinary Clinic for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases including penile warts and males attending Kings' ACU for investigations of infertility. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--HPV DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or Southern blot hybridisation in semen. RESULTS--HPV DNA was detected by PCR in 23 of 27 (85%) specimens from patients attending the GUM clinic for treatment of genital warts and in one of two specimens from patients attending the clinic for other conditions. By Southern blot, nine (33%) of the 29 specimens from GUM clinic patients were HPV DNA-positive. HPV DNA was detected by PCR in 43 of 104 (41%) of specimens from males attending the ACU, whilst 70 of these tested by Southern blot hybridisation were all negative for HPV DNA. CONCLUSIONS--The data suggest that urethral HPV infections, as indicated by the presence of HPV DNA in semen, are prevalent in males with and without genital warts.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1649121&dopt=Abstract genital wart