title: Follow-up of HPV DNA copy number in cidofovir therapy of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cidofovir is a cytosine nucleoside analogue antiviral drug given as an adjuvant therapy in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Intralesional cidofovir therapy was given to a 14-year-old male patient. The papilloma severity score (PSS) of Derkay et al. was used for follow-up. Serial fresh-frozen biopsies were taken from the lesions in the larynx and soft palate prior to therapy and during its course. After human papillomavirus (HPV) typing and the determination of the genomic physical state, the HPV DNA copy number was estimated with real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the papillomas harboured HPV 11 DNA in episomal form. Prior to therapy, the HPV copy number fluctuated with time. In the initial treatment period with 2-week-intervals both the viral load and the PSS decreased and a transient complete remission was observed. Subsequently, when the injections were given at longer intervals, the viral load returned to the initial values or greated, fluctuations reappeared and the RRP recurred at a controlled rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial treatment period was successful, as the viral load decreased, and long-term effects of cidofovir might account for the controlled disease as the injection intervals were prolonged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. majortamas@freemail.hu
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sziklai
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czeglédy
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gáll
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gergely
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szarka