TY - JOUR
T1 - Possible transmission of human herpesvirus-8 by blood transfusion in a historical United States cohort
AU - Dollard, Sheila C.
AU - Nelson, Kenrad E.
AU - Ness, Paul M.
AU - Stambolis, Veronica
AU - Kuehnert, Matthew J.
AU - Pellett, Philip E.
AU - Cannon, Michael J.
PY - 2005/4
Y1 - 2005/4
N2 - BACKGROUND: Transmission of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) by blood transfusion in the United States appears plausible but has not been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to evaluate evidence of HHV-8 transmission via blood transfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum specimens were collected before and 6 months after surgery from 406 patients who enrolled in the Frequency of Agents Communicable by Transfusion study (FACTS) in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1986 to 1990. The change in HHV-8 serostatus was measured by a lytic-antigen immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Of the 284 patients who were initially HHV-8-seronegative and who received transfusions, 2 sero-converted, 1 with a postsurgery antibody titer of 1:160 and the other with a titer of 1:1280. These patients received 12 and 13 units of blood, respectively. None of the HHV-8-seronegative patients who did not receive transfusions seroconverted. If seroconversion was caused by transfused blood, the transmission risk per transfused component was 0.082 percent. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report suggesting transmission of HHV-8 via blood components in the United States. Because linked donor specimens were not available, other routes of transmission cannot be excluded; however, the evidence is consistent with infection being caused by transfusion. Future studies should include contemporary US populations with linked donor specimens and populations at higher risk for HHV-8 infection.
AB - BACKGROUND: Transmission of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) by blood transfusion in the United States appears plausible but has not been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to evaluate evidence of HHV-8 transmission via blood transfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum specimens were collected before and 6 months after surgery from 406 patients who enrolled in the Frequency of Agents Communicable by Transfusion study (FACTS) in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1986 to 1990. The change in HHV-8 serostatus was measured by a lytic-antigen immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Of the 284 patients who were initially HHV-8-seronegative and who received transfusions, 2 sero-converted, 1 with a postsurgery antibody titer of 1:160 and the other with a titer of 1:1280. These patients received 12 and 13 units of blood, respectively. None of the HHV-8-seronegative patients who did not receive transfusions seroconverted. If seroconversion was caused by transfused blood, the transmission risk per transfused component was 0.082 percent. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report suggesting transmission of HHV-8 via blood components in the United States. Because linked donor specimens were not available, other routes of transmission cannot be excluded; however, the evidence is consistent with infection being caused by transfusion. Future studies should include contemporary US populations with linked donor specimens and populations at higher risk for HHV-8 infection.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.0041-1132.2005.04334.x
DO - 10.1111/j.0041-1132.2005.04334.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15819669
AN - SCOPUS:17044413669
SN - 0041-1132
VL - 45
SP - 500
EP - 503
JO - Transfusion
JF - Transfusion
IS - 4
ER -