ANTIBODIES AGAINST HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-6 CAPSIDS ARE ELEVATED IN MEN WITH PREVIOUS CONDYLOMAS

Serum samples from 47 men with current condylomas, 32 men with a histo ry of condylomas and from 205 men with no history of genital wart dise ase, who were attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics at two different hospitals in Stockholm, were analyzed for the presence o f immunoglobulin G (IgG) and A (IgA) antibodies to capsids of human pa pillomavirus types 6 and 11. IgG to HPV type 6 was found among 35% of patients with a history of condylomas compared to 10% of controls (p=0 .0003), but only among 27% of patients with current condylomas. Antibo dies to HPV 6 and to HPV 11 showed a very limited correlation, suggest ing that the antibodies are HPV-type restricted. The results strengthe n conclusions from a previous serological study indicating that IgG an tibodies against HPV 6 develop late during condylomatous disease and m ostly reflect previous exposure to the virus.