Prevalence, type distribution and risk factors for oral HPV in Danish renal transplant recipients

Objective To assess the prevalence and type distribution of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) among renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and healthy controls and to examine risk factors for oral HPV among RTRs. Materials and methods During 2016-2017 we recruited 250 RTRs and 250 controls. Oral samples were tested for HPV DNA with INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra II. All participants answered a questionnaire on lifestyle and sexual behaviour, and characteristics of RTRs were obtained from medical files. We assessed prevalence and type distribution of oral HPV. Using logistic regression, the risk of oral HPV and risk factors for oral HPV among RTRs were estimated as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Overall, 30 RTRs (12.1%) and 26 controls (10.4%) were oral HPV positive (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.64-2.05). Female RTRs tended to have a higher oral HPV prevalence than controls (OR = 1.73; 95% CI: 0.63-4.77), while no difference was observed among men. HPV51 was the commonest genotype. Sexual behaviour tended to be associated with oral HPV among RTRs. Conclusions There was no overall difference in oral HPV prevalence between RTRs and controls, but female RTRs tended to have a higher prevalence of oral HPV than controls.