title: Direct correlation between human herpesvirus-8 seroprevalence and classic Kaposi's sarcoma incidence in Northern Sardinia.
abstract: The human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) has been associated with the development of Kaposi's sarcoma. A high incidence of classic Kaposi's sarcoma has been described in Sardinia, an island West of Italy's mainland. Different seroepidemiological analyses have reported that prevalence of HHV-8 infection varies worldwide: a high HHV-8 seroprevalence has been shown in Italy. The present survey was carried out to evaluate the correlation between HHV-8 infection and classic Kaposi's sarcoma incidence in northern Sardinia. Blood samples were collected from 226 healthy donors born and resident in five different areas of North Sardinia. Seroprevalence to HHV-8 was determined searching antibodies to viral lytic proteins by immunofluorescence in sera diluted at 1:10. Classic Kaposi's sarcoma incidence data spanning a period of 23 years were examined in the areas studied. The present screening revealed that seroprevalence was 35%, within a range of 15.3-46.3% in the five areas, although it should be considered that the seroprevalence to HHV-8 can be established more accurately by the combined use of different assays. Age emerged as an important risk factor. Indeed, subjects aged > 50 years showed a higher seroprevalence to HHV-8 as compared with younger individuals. A strong direct correlation between HHV-8 prevalence and classic Kaposi's sarcoma incidence has been also observed. The wide diffusion of HHV-8 in Sardinia appears to represent an important factor in the high incidence of classic Kaposi's sarcoma reported in the island. However, additional co-factors, such as age, sex, genetic traits, or viral strain pathogenicity, are likely to play a role in the development of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Marco
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angeloni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uccini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacchiarotti
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Montesu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Satta
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cerimele
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faggioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cottoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral