The prevalence of human papillomavirus DNA in benign keratotic skin lesions of renal transplant recipients with and without a history of skin cancer is equally high: a clinical study to assess risk factors for keratotic skin lesions and skin cancer.

Unlabelled: DNA of the epidermodysplasia-verruciformis associated subgroup of HPV (EV-HPV) is frequently detected in biopsies of premalignant lesions and nonmelanoma skin cancers of renal transplant recipients. The prevalence of EV-HPVs, however, has never been systematically studied in benign keratotic skin lesions of patients with or without a history of skin cancer. This study included 42 renal transplant recipients with and 36 without a history of skin cancer.

High frequency of detection of epidermodysplasia verruciformis-associated human papillomavirus DNA in biopsies from malignant and premalignant skin lesions from renal transplant recipients.

Based on immunologic and epidemiologic data, it is plausible that skin cancer in renal transplant recipients is associated with human papillomaviruses (HPV). At present, conflicting evidence exists concerning the presence of HPV DNA in these cancers. We recently described a nested polymerase chain reaction method that enables the detection of all previously isolated epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)-associated HPVs.