title: Transmission of human herpesvirus 8 by blood transfusion.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hladik
authors.forename: Sheila C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dollard
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mermin
authors.forename: Ashley L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fowlkes
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.forename: Minal M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Banage
authors.forename: Esau
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nzaro
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kataaha
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dondero
authors.forename: Philip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Pellett
authors.forename: Eve M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lackritz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral