Correlates of Human Herpesvirus-8 DNA detection among adults in Italy without Kaposi sarcoma.
BACKGROUND
The presence of Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) DNA is predictive of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) among patients with HIV-associated or iatrogenic immunosuppression. However, correlates of HHV8-DNA detection in the general population remain undefined.


METHODS
We assessed correlates of HHV8-DNA detection among Italian adults without KS who had antibodies against HHV8-latent nuclear antigen by immunofluorescence assay. HHV8-K6 DNA sequences were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using TaqMan PCR.


RESULTS
Of the 158 subjects 26 (16.5%) had detectable HHV8-DNA [median copies/million cells, 53; (13-2128)]. Adjusted for age, sex, and laboratory, HHV8-DNA was detected more frequently in participants with >7 total residents in the childhood home [OR = 3.7 (1.5-9.1)], >2 younger siblings [OR = 2.6 (1.1-6.5)], and current cardiovascular [OR = 3.6 (1.3-9.7)] or renal [OR = 3.1 (1.2-8.0)] disease. Excluding the participants using immune modulating drugs, HHV8-DNA was more frequent among those with low red blood cells (RBC) [<4.5 10(6)/microl; OR = 5.3 (1.7-16.2)], slightly elevated mean corpuscular volume [>92 microm3/red cell; OR = 2.8 (1.0-7.8)], and mild thrombocytopenia [<151 K/microl; OR = 5.6 (1.9-16.3)].


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of HHV8-DNA in elderly Italians is associated with childhood crowding, low RBCs, and platelets, perhaps indicating roles for early infection and chronic inflammation. These risk factors are the first to be reported for non-immunosuppressed HHV8-seropositive adults.
Brown
Elizabeth E
EE
Viral Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. brownbe@mail.nih.gov
Whitby
Denise
D
Vitale
Francesco
F
Fei
Paola Cordiali
PC
Del Carpio
Carla
C
Marshall
Vickie
V
Alberg
Anthony J
AJ
Serraino
Diego
D
Messina
Angelo
A
Gafa
Lorenzo
L
Goedert
James J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015897:Comorbidity; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral