Safety and Acceptability of Thermal Ablation for Treatment of Human Papillomavirus Among Women Living With HIV in Western Kenya

Abstract

PURPOSE The WHO now recommends thermal ablation as an alternative to cryotherapy within “screen-and-treat” cervical cancer programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We conducted a safety and acceptability clinical trial of thermal ablation in a Kenyan Ministry of Health hospital among women living with HIV (WLWH; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04191967). METHODS Between August 2019 and February 2020, WLWH age 25-65 years underwent human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection in western Kenya. HPV-positive women underwent visual inspection with acetic acid, biopsy, and treatment with thermal ablation performed by a nonphysician clinician, if eligible by standard guidelines. A questionnaire was administered after treatment to assess for pain and treatment acceptability. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated 4-6 weeks after treatment with a standardized grading tool. RESULTS A total of 293 HPV-positive WLWH underwent thermal ablation in the study period. The mean age was 40.4 years (standard deviation, 8.7 years). After treatment, 15 (5.1%), 231 (78.8%), 42 (14.3%), and 5 (1.8%) reported none, mild, moderate, and severe pain with treatment, respectively. At follow-up, spotting, vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain were reported by 99 (37.8%), 258 (98.5%), and 46 (17.6%), respectively, for a median of 3.3 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-3), 14 (IQR, 7-21), and 7 (IQR, 3-7) days, respectively. Most participants graded their AEs as mild (grade 1): 94 (95.0%) for bleeding, 125 (48.5%) for vaginal discharge, and 37 (80.4%) for pelvic pain. No grade 3 or 4 AEs were reported. The vast majority (99.2%) were satisfied with the treatment and would recommend it to a friend. CONCLUSION Thermal ablation performed by nonphysicians in the public health sector in Kenya proved safe and highly acceptable in treating HPV-positive WLWH.