title: Genital and extra-genital warts increase the risk of asymptomatic genital human papillomavirus infection in men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship of warts in different parts of the body and the risk of asymptomatic genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the relationship of self-reported genital and extra-genital warts with the subsequent acquisition of asymptomatic genital HPV infection in a cohort of 331 adult men. Participants were followed at 2-month intervals for up to 4 years. Past and current presence of warts was queried at study entry. At each visit, the external genitals were sampled for HPV DNA testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men who reported a history of genital warts, including current warts, were at increased risk of acquisition of asymptomatic HPV infection of the penis glans/corona, penis shaft and scrotum. The magnitude of these associations was greatest for HPV 6/11 infection. History of warts on the fingers, arms and trunk of the body was also associated with increased risk of genital HPV infection. Current presence of warts on the fingers and trunk specifically increased the risk of acquisition of HPV types not typically found on the genitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Men with a history of warts on the genitals, fingers, arms and trunk may be at increased risk for acquisition of new genital HPV infections. Warts may provide an efficient reservoir for the transmission of virions to the genitals through auto-inoculation. The potential for the spread of HPV throughout the body through auto-inoculation has important implications for prevention and control of HPV infection.
authors: Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, 1236 Lauhala Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. brenda@cc.hawaii.edu
authors: Brenda Y
authors: BY
authors: Hernandez
authors: Yurii B
authors: YB
authors: Shvetsov
authors: Marc T
authors: MT
authors: Goodman
authors: Lynne R
authors: LR
authors: Wilkens
authors: Pamela J
authors: PJ
authors: Thompson
authors: Xuemei
authors: X
authors: Zhu
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Tom
authors: Lily
authors: L
authors: Ning
references: Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Oct 15;35(Suppl 2):S210-24
references: 12353208
references: Clin Dermatol. 1997 May-Jun;15(3):309-19
references: 9255438
references: IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum. 1991;52:1-544
references: 1683674
references: J Cutan Pathol. 1987 Dec;14(6):319-25
references: 2832456
references: Infect Agent Cancer. 2009 May 11;4:7
references: 19432962
references: J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999 Feb 3;91(3):226-36
references: 10037100
references: Am J Med. 1997 May 5;102(5A):3-8
references: 9217656
references: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jun;14(6):888-94
references: 18507898
references: J Clin Microbiol. 1995 Aug;33(8):2058-63
references: 7559948
references: Virus Res. 1992 May;23(3):193-208
references: 1320793
references: J Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 15;197(6):787-94
references: 18284369
references: Am J Clin Dermatol. 2000 May-Jun;1(3):143-9
references: 11702295
references: Arch Dermatol. 1984 Apr;120(4):469-75
references: 6546656
references: J Infect Dis. 2010 Oct 15;202(8):1181-4
references: 20812849
references: Anticancer Res. 1999 Jul-Aug;19(4B):3049-53
references: 10652591
references: J Clin Microbiol. 2006 Feb;44(2):513-7
references: 16455906