Helle K. Larsen, Louise T. Thomsen, Merete Hædersdal, Trine Thorborg Lok, Jesper Melchior Hansen, Søren Schwartz Sørensen, Susanne K. Kjær
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3858

Renal transplant recipients have increased risk of human papilloma virus-related anogenital (pre)cancers. Less is known about their risk of anogenital warts. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and odds of anogenital warts in renal transplant recipients compared with immunocompetent controls, and to assess risk factors for intra- and perianal warts in renal transplant recipients. The study examined 248 renal transplant recipients and 250 controls for cutaneous and mucosal anogenital warts. Participants completed a questionnaire on lifestyle and sexual habits. For external anogenital warts (including penile, vulvar and perianal warts), renal transplant recipients had higher prevalence and odds than controls, both in men (8.1% vs 1.6%, adjusted odds ratio (ORadjusted)=5.09, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.03–25.04) and women (11.3% vs 1.6%, ORadjusted=8.09, 95% CI 1.69–38.82). For intra-anal warts, there was no clear pattern of higher odds in renal transplant recipients than controls. Current smoking and having had receptive anal sex increased the risk of intra-/perianal warts in renal transplant recipients. In conclusion, renal transplant recipients in this study had higher odds of external anogenital warts than controls.

Renal transplant recipients are at increased risk of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related anogenital (pre-)malignancies. This clinical cross-sectional study, shows that renal transplant recipients also have increased risk of external human papilloma virus-related anogenital warts, especially vulvar and perianal warts, compared with an immunocompetent control group. These results support that renal transplant recipients should be regularly examined for anogenital warts in a routine setting.