Treatment outcoumes of the recurrent respiratory papillomatosis with Gardasil®

Introduction:

The recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (rrp) is a chronic relapsing disease of viral cause, which is characterised by the recurrent growth of multiple papillomas in the aerodigestive tract. Although it is a benign disease, the patients may face serious complications, such as a spread in the lower airways and a malignant transformation and its outcome may be lethal. There is no causal therapy for the rrp and the HPV-vaccine, as the first immunological therapy for HPV-associated diseases, is a good therapeutical option for the papillomatosis.

Materials and methods:

Rrp -Patients were treated adjuvantly to the operation with Gardasil® or Gardasil® 9 (after June 2016). The relapsing intervals and the operations/year were estimated before and after the surgery.

Results:

The vaccine was initiated on 20 patients and is completed in 18 patients. There were no complications noted after the vaccination. The observation time is on average 36.2 moths (5 – 110 months). There were relapses in 8 patients, whereas 8 patients (50%) are papilloma-free. The patients, who had relapses, had longer recurrence intervals and a statistically significant lower number of operations/year.

Conclusion:

The adjuvant administration of the vaccine, when combined with the surgical ablation of the papillomas, can lead to better local control of the rrp, with longer interval rates and a lower number of operations/year.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)