title: Molecular Epidemiology of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpes Virus, and Risk Factors in HIV-infected Patients in Tehran, 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) remains the most common malignancy among HIV-infected patients. Human herpesvirus type-8 (HHV-8) is regarded as the infectious etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KSHV). Diagnostic procedures associated with KSHV are not routinely performed in HIV-infected subjects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study is to obtain information on KSHV epidemiology in Iranian HIV-infected individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present cross-sectional study, 109 patients with established HIV infection, who visited a governmental and referral center for HIV screening in Tehran (Tehran west health center (TWHC)) between May 2014 and July 2015 were enrolled according to the convenience sample strategy. After peripheral blood collection, isolation of plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) compartments, DNA extraction was performed. KSHV DNA was analyzed by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) using primers from ORF-26 (virus minor capsid).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all 109 HIV-infected patients, 67 (61.5%) were male, with an age range of 2 - 64 years (mean ± standard deviation 35.8 ± 13.3). KSHV DNA was found in PBMC and plasma samples of six (5.5%) and four (3.6%) patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed a considerable prevalence of KSHV DNA, during latent and lytic phases, among HIV-infected patients. Risk factors for KSHV infection acquisition and concurrent. 0+infection with HIV were also evaluated. Diagnosis of KSHV in the group could be helpful for prognosis of Kaposi's sarcoma and clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Middle East Liver Diseases (MELD) Center, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Khashayar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hesamizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyvani
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; HIV Laboratory of National Center, Deputy of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bokharaei-Salim
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hamidreza
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Monavari
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esghaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jahanbakhsh Sefidi
keywords: HIV; Herpesvirus 8; Human; Kaposi; Nested PCR; Sarcoma