title: Longitudinal analysis of human herpesvirus-8 DNA and antibodies in an Italian allogeneic stem cell transplant recipient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changes of HHV-8 antibody reactivity and intermittent detection of HHV-8 DNA have been observed in subjects with Kaposis's Sarcoma and/or HIV infection. Little is known about the longitudinal dynamics of HHV-8 DNA and antibody response in allografted stem cell transplant (SCT) patients without Kaposis's Sarcoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the natural history of a HHV-8 seropositive patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who developed an active HHV-8 infection after SCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  HHV-8 antibodies were measured by IFA and ELISA assays. HHV-8 DNA was detected by real-time PCR quantitative assay in serum and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two out of 26 (85%) serum samples had detectable HHV-8 antibodies: 21/26 (80%) samples were positive by both IFA and ELISA assays, while 1 sample was ELISA positive-IFA negative. The remaining 4 samples (15%) were negative by both assays. Five out of 6 (83%) serum-PBL samples pairs had detectable HHV-8 DNA: a median of 934 genomes/ml (range 254-6316 genomes/ml) in the serum and a median of 10,000 genomes/10(5) (range 1472-93,460 gen/10(5)) in PBL. An active HHV-8 infection occurred early within the first 30 days after the transplant, extended up to day +180 and occurred without evidence of HHV-8-related neoplastic or non neoplastic diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that a patient infected with HHV-8 before SCT can be either intermittently HHV-8 DNA-positive and/or seropositive for HHV-8 after SCT. A high and persistent HHV-8 replication may be ongoing even in the absence of overt HHV-8-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
authors.forename: Anna Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Iori
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.forename: Giovanni Fernando
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Torelli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micozzi
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girmenia
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foà
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gentile
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000077404:Cidofovir; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D063065:Organophosphonates; D017245:Foscarnet; D003596:Cytosine; D000077404:Cidofovir; D015774:Ganciclovir