Increased risk of cervical dysplasia in long-term survivors of allogeneic stem cell transplantation--implications for screening and HPV vaccination

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2008 Sep;14(9):1072-1075. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2008.07.005.

Abstract

As more women survive allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), the development of genital human papilloma virus (HPV)-related squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) warrants study. Thirty-five of 38 females followed prospectively long-term after SCT for hematological malignancies (median: 7 years posttransplant) were adults and had cervical cytology testing. Acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) occurred in 9 and chronic (cGVHD) in 34 patients. Six (17%) continued receiving systemic immunosuppressive therapy (IST) for cGVHD >3 years after SCT. Of 15 (43%) with abnormal cytology, 12 (34%) patients had HPV-related SIL (median time to SIL 51 months, range: 22-108) including high-grade SIL in 7 (20%). Patients requiring continued IST had the highest risk (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-16.4; P = .019). This high incidence of SIL in long-term SCT survivors underscores the importance of gynecologic assessment after transplantation, especially in those requiring IST. This may portend an increased risk of genital or other HPV-related malignancies.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / mortality
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / mortality*
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / prevention & control
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Papillomavirus Vaccines