Recurrent Respiratory Papilloma Study

The purpose of this study is to discover the genetic elements that confer
susceptibility to the unfortunate people who acquire Recurrent Respiratory
Papillomatosis. Many people are exposed to the causative virus, human
papillomavirus 6 and 11 yet only a small fraction of these people develop the
disease. Furthermore, the disease displays a very wide range of aggressiveness.
Determining the genetic basis of susceptibility to HPV will provide insight into
the fundamental disease process of RRP and human papilloma infections in
general. This, in turn, will facilitate the development of rational therapy.

   Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) is a chronic disease that affects
children and adults. The most common manifestation is warts on the vocal folds,
which despite repeated attempts at eradication tend to recur. The warts cause
hoarseness and if left unchecked can grow large enough to obstruct the airway
and cause shortness of breath and possibly death 1. In addition, a minority of
patients develops distal spread of the papillomas resulting in further
narrowing of the airway and obstruction of the lung parenchyma. Rarely, the
papilloma may undergo malignant transformation.