Background

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) involves the formation of laryngeal papillomata, requiring frequent surgical excision. They are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes -6 and -11, so the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil®) has been proposed and studied as an adjuvant therapy to prevent additional papilloma formation. 

Objectives

To determine the effects of HPV vaccination on the number of surgical procedures and inter-surgical interval of RRP.

Methods

Clinical histories of six adult patients were examined for extent of disease, previous surgical modalities and timing of HPV vaccination. 

Results

At a follow-up period range of 1-37 months, 4 patients had no further surgical procedures post-Gardasil® and 2 patients had increased inter-surgical intervals post-Gardasil®.

Conclusion 

Our results tentatively show a reduced frequency of surgical procedures in the vaccinated individuals. Larger, prospective, controlled studies are necessary over longer time periods to draw more significant conclusions.

The effects of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccination in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis