Circumcision of HIV-infected men: Effects on high-risk human papillomavirus infections in a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda

In Rakai, Uganda, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men were randomized to undergo either immediate circumcision (intervention arm) or delayed circumcision (control arm). Penile swab samples were assayed for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) by Roche HPV Linear Array at enrollment and at 24 months (intervention arm, 103 subjects; control arm, 107 subjects). Rate ratios (RRs) of HR-HPV were estimated by Poisson regression. At 24 months, HR-HPV prevalence was found in 57 (55.3%) of 103 subjects in the intervention arm and in 77 (71.7%) of 107 subjects in the control arm (RR, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.97). Multiple HR-HPV infections were found in 19 (22.4%) of 85 subjects in the intervention arm and in 45 (42.5%) of 106 subjects in the control arm (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.83). New HR-HPV genotypes were acquired by 34 (42.0%) of 81 subjects in the intervention arm and by 53 (57.0%) 85 subjects in the control arm (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54-1.01; P = .06). Multiple new HR-HPV genotypes were acquired by 8 (9.9%) of 81 subjects in the intervention arm and by 23 (24.7%) of 93 subjects in the control arm (RR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19-0.84; P = .01). Circumcision did not affect the acquisition of single HR-HPV infections (RR, 1.00; 95% CI 0.65-1.53) or clearance of HR-HPV infections (RR, 1.09; 95% CI 0.94-1.27). Circumcision of HIV-positive men reduced the prevalence and incidence of multiple HR-HPV infections. Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00124878.