Transmission of human herpesvirus 8 by blood transfusion.
BACKGROUND
Whether human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is transmissible by blood transfusion remains undetermined. We evaluated the risk of HHV-8 transmission by blood transfusion in Uganda, where HHV-8 is endemic.


METHODS
We enrolled patients in Kampala, Uganda, who had received blood transfusions between December 2000 and October 2001. Pretransfusion and multiple post-transfusion blood specimens from up to nine visits over a 6-month period were tested for HHV-8 antibody. We calculated the excess risk of seroconversion over time among recipients of HHV-8-seropositive blood as compared with recipients of seronegative blood.


RESULTS
Of the 1811 transfusion recipients enrolled, 991 were HHV-8-seronegative before transfusion and completed the requisite follow-up, 43% of whom received HHV-8-seropositive blood and 57% of whom received seronegative blood. HHV-8 seroconversion occurred in 41 of the 991 recipients. The risk of seroconversion was significantly higher among recipients of HHV-8-seropositive blood than among recipients of seronegative blood (excess risk, 2.8%; P<0.05), and the increase in risk was seen mainly among patients in whom seroconversion occurred 3 to 10 weeks after transfusion (excess risk, 2.7%; P=0.005), a result consistent with the transmission of the virus by transfusion. Blood units stored for up to 4 days were more often associated with seroconversion than those stored for more than 4 days (excess risk, 4.2%; P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides strong evidence that HHV-8 is transmitted by blood transfusion. The risk may be diminished as the period of blood storage increases.
Hladik
Wolfgang
W
Global Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Program, National Center for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Entebbe, Uganda.
Dollard
Sheila C
SC
Mermin
Jonathan
J
Fowlkes
Ashley L
AL
Downing
Robert
R
Amin
Minal M
MM
Banage
Flora
F
Nzaro
Esau
E
Kataaha
Peter
P
Dondero
Timothy J
TJ
Pellett
Philip E
PE
Lackritz
Eve M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001793:Blood Preservation; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral