Anogenital warts: from the problems of epidemiological record to the proven effect of vaccine prophylaxis on population health as a marker of global success in the fight against HPV

Anogenital warts (AGWs) — one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The disease forms medical, economic and socio-psychological burden — from patients’ quality of life deterioration and risk of oncological complications development to significant financial costs for treatment. Official registration of AGWs in Russia does not reflect the real epidemiological situation. At the same time, the disease’s cases registration is an important part of the public health system and allows to control the spread of human papilloma virus (HPV), identify risk groups, as well as schedule and evaluate preventive measures. Currently, here is no effective etiotropic therapy for HPV-associated diseases in the doctors’ arsenal, and the used destructive treatment methods are aimed at eliminating the clinical manifestations of the infection rather than eradicating the virus itself, that leads to a high frequency of relapse after treatment. In this regard, it is evident that priority is being given to measures aimed at HPV infection prevention, among which vaccination is the most effective method. The accumulated worldwide experience of vaccination of people of both sexes with quadrivalent HPV vaccine demonstrates high safety, persistent immune response and clinical efficacy, which is expressed in the reduction of morbidity not only with HPV but also with malignant HPV-associated diseases and plays a key role in the formation of collective immunity.