#5-30E. Unveiling the Silent Threat: Multi-Site HPV Cancer Risks in Autoimmune Patients (RMD Open, 2026)

Are you fully aware of the extent of human papillomavirus (HPV) malignancy risks in your patients with autoimmune conditions? This nationwide matched cohort study from France investigated the risk of HPV-induced cancers and severe dysplasia at multiple anatomical sites among 122,316 patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) compared to 316,047 matched controls. The findings revealed that patients with IMIDs carry nearly a twofold increased overall risk of developing HPV-associated malignancies, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients showing a particularly high hazard ratio of 3.65. Crucially, the study provides robust, population-level evidence of significantly elevated risks not only for cervical cancer but also across multiple non-cervical sites, including the vagina, vulva, and anus. However, clinicians must critically appraise these findings, noting that the inpatient database registry may exclude milder outpatient cases, and the lack of individual-level data on immunosuppressive therapies, sexual history, and HPV vaccination status could introduce residual confounding. Nevertheless, this study serves as a powerful reminder for physicians to expand clinical vigilance beyond routine cervical screenings to other anatomical sites and aggressively advocate for HPV vaccination in this vulnerable population.

Citation: Gros C, Goulenok T, Timsit J-F, et al. Risk of cancer induced by human papillomavirus in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a nationwide matched cohort study. RMD Open. 2026. DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2026-006927

URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2026-006927

Disclaimer: This audio summary is based on personal interpretation and does not guarantee the exact content of the original paper. Please refer to the original article for details.