Human herpesvirus-8 seropositivity and clinical correlations in HIV-1-positive and highly exposed, persistently HIV-seronegative individuals in Greece.
The prevalence of anti-human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) antibodies was retrospectively assessed in a cohort of 248 consecutive HIV-1-positive patients followed up in an academic unit in Greece during a 14-year period and in 46 highly exposed, persistently HIV-seronegative (HEPS) individuals. The impact of the initial anti-HHV-8 status on tumorgenesis and mortality was studied. The first available serum sample from the department's pool was tested. Demographics and data regarding history of sexually transmitted diseases, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and hepatitis C (HCV) status were collected. Patients who developed either HHV-8-related or non-HHV-8-related neoplasms during long-term follow-up were also identified. Forty-eight percent of the HIV-1-positive patients and 56% of the HEPS subjects were found anti-HHV-8-positive. No difference was observed regarding the development of HHV-8-related or non-HHV-8-related neoplasia and mortality on grounds of initial anti- HHV-8 status. Mortality was positively associated with the presence of HBsAg. HCV infection showed a trend to be more common in anti-HHV-8-positive patients. In summary, the seroprevalence of HHV-8 among HIV-1-positive patients is higher than the one reported in the Western world. The initial anti-HHV-8 status is not a prognostic factor in HIV-1-positive individuals. The high seroprevalence in HEPS individuals possibly reflects their risk-prone lifestyle. HbsAg-positive status is a long-term negative prognostic factor in HIV infection.
Academic Department of Pathophysiology (AIDS Unit), Medical School of Athens, Athens, Greece. gpanayio@sghms.ac.uk
George D
GD
Panayiotakopoulos
Despina
D
Mavroyianni
Marianna
M
Politou
Kyriaki
K
Aroni
Olga
O
Kosmopoulou
Athanasios N
AN
Kontos
Helen
H
Choremi-Papadopoulou
John
J
Pediaditis
Theodore
T
Kordossis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis