HPV vaccines in immunocompromised women and men

HIV-positive as well as other immunocompromised women and men have increased risk of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anogenital and oral cancers. The effectiveness of a HPV vaccine to reduce the incidence of these tumors in immunocompromised individuals may depend on several factors, including the effects of immunocompromise on the response to vaccination, the extent of prior infection with the HPV types included in the vaccine, whether immunocompromised women and men have tumors that contain types of HPV not in the vaccines more often than the general population, and whether or not immunization occurs before immunocompromise is severe. Clinical studies are needed to determine HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness in different populations of immunocompromised women and men. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.