Treatment of Anogenital Papillomavirus Infections with an Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonate Analogue

To the Editor: (S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)cytosine (HPMPC) is an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate analogue with broad-spectrum antiviral activity against DNA viruses, including herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus, varicella–zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein–Barr virus), adenoviruses, poxviruses, and papillomaviruses.1,2 We recently showed that local injections of HPMPC into a life-threatening squamous papilloma of the hypopharynx–esophagus eradicated the tumor.2 Two years later, the patient was still free of disease. We report the use of HPMPC in three patients with AIDS and severe, relapsing anogenital human papillomavirus lesions. A 44-year-old homosexual man had been unsuccessfully treated for recurrent penile human papillomavirus lesions since December 1993 with curettage. © 1995, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.