Reactivation of and primary infection with human herpesvirus 8 among solid-organ transplant recipients.
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is the causal agent of all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma, including the iatrogenic form that presents in solid-organ transplant recipients. A longitudinal study of HHV-8 seropositivity was conducted among a cohort consisting of children and adult solid-organ transplant recipients. Antibodies to HHV-8 lytic proteins were detected by an indirect immunofluorescence assay in serum samples of 100 transplant recipients. HHV-8 seropositivity increased significantly, from 5.3% before transplantation to 15.8% after transplantation (P<.01). Seropositivity was not related to the age of the patient or the type of organ transplanted. HHV-8 seroconversion occurred in both children and adult recipients. None of the seroconversion events was related to the source of the donor organ. These findings suggest that HHV-8 infection is not uncommon among both adult and children transplant recipients and that viral infection may be acquired from an outside source other than the transplanted organ.
Jenkins
Frank J
FJ
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. fjenkins@pitt.edu
Hoffman
Linda J
LJ
Liegey-Dougall
Angela
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014775:Virus Activation
D000914:Antibodies, Viral