Background: Estimates for the prevalence of cervical HPV infection vary and are only available for a few populations with regard to male partners. Attention has been drawn to the male role in cancer progression from cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, but most of the male lesions are subclinical and only visible after acetowhite staining. The prognostic significance of acetowhite areas, of male partners of women affected by HPV and preneoplastic lesions, was evaluated.
Materials and methods: A cohort of 3210 male partners of women affected by HPV infection and/or preneoplastic lesion of the lower genital tract was observed from 1987 to 2001. Acetowhite changes were assessed 5 min after the application of 5% solution of acetic acid and biopsies were tested for HPV-DNA by PCR. Patients with HPV lesions underwent CO2 laser surgery and follow-up.
Results: Of the 3210 male partners, 39.12% exhibited clinical HPV lesions and 3.64% subclinical lesions identified as acetowhite areas. In the group of 117 male partners with acetowhite areas, the HPV-DNA test was positive (HPV 6-11) in 36.75% and negative in 63.24% (p<0.001). No statistical differences were observed between HPV+/- groups regarding their sexual habits. The HPV-positive infection group compared to the HPV-negative group showed a statistically significant difference for CO2 laser surgery (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The acetic acid test can give false-positives and is not a specific indicator of HPV infection, and thus the limited efficacy of tests for acetowhite areas was confirmed. The treatment of clinical lesions is necessary. Follow-up represents the major route to the diagnosis of preneoplastic lesions in men and for the prevention of cervical carcinoma in their female partners.