title: Lifelong widespread warts associated with human papillomavirus type 70/85: a new diagnostic entity?
abstract: We present a patient with HPV 70/85-positive widespread cutaneous warts characterized by clinical and histological features atypical for classic generalized verrucosis or epidermodysplasia verruciformis. The cutaneous HPV infection is characterized by verrucous papules or plaques variable in size, number, and distribution depending on the genotype of HPV involved and the immune status of the patient. Human papillomaviruses comprise ﬁve genera (alpha, beta, gamma, mu, and nu papillomavirus) with different life-cycle characteristics, epithelial tropisms, and disease associations. Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare, lifelong, autosomal recessive skin disease characterized by persistent cutaneous human papillomavirus infection not necessarily associated with immune system defects. The disease results from an unusual genetic susceptibility to infections with various types of HPVs (especially β-HPV), some of which cause malignant transformation. Conversely, generalized verrucosis has been more typically associated with generalized warts, which are associated with immunocompromised conditions.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Giuliodori
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campanati
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ganzetti
authors.affiliation: Pathological Anatomy Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giangiacomi
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit, Department of Services, United Hospital of Ancona, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, United Hospital of Ancona, Polytechnic Marche University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Offidani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003452:Cryosurgery; D004819:Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male