THE PREVALENCE OF SERUM ANTIBODY TO HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-8 (KAPOSI SARCOMA-ASSOCIATED HERPESVIRUS) AMONG HIV-SEROPOSITIVE AND HIGH-RISK HIV-SERONEGATIVE WOMEN

Objective.-To determine the prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) seropositivity among women who are known to be infected with human imm unodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or who are at high risk for HIV inf ection. Design.-A cross-sectional and blinded study of the prevalence of serological reactivity to HHV-8 infection as determined by an indir ect immunofluorescence assay using nuclei from cells latently infected with HHV-8. Data and specimens were collected at baseline assessments of a longitudinal natural history cohort study. Setting.-Four San Fra ncisco Bay Area outpatient HIV specialty clinics participating in the cohort study. Patients.-A total of 387 participants in the Women's Int eragency HIV Study whose HIV infection status was documented and serum was available in a local specimen repository. Main Outcome Measure.-S erological reactivity to HHV-8. Results.-Serological reactivity to lat ent HHV-8 antigens was uncommon among study participants: 13 (3.4%) de monstrated serum antibodies. HHV-8 reactivity was more common among HI V-infected women; 12 (4.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1%-6.9%) o f the 302 HIV-infected participants vs 1 (1.2%; 95% CI, 0.03%-6.4%) of the 84 HIV-uninfected participants were seropositive for HHV-8, thoug h the difference did not attain statistical significance (odds ratio=3 .43; 95% CI, 0.49-148.6). Two of the HIV-infected women had Kaposi sar coma lesions and both were seropositive. Conclusions.-The prevalence o f HHV-8 seropositivity among the group of HIV-infected women was drama tically lower than that recently reported among HIV-infected homosexua l and bisexual men (30%-35%). This finding parallels the lower prevale nce of Kaposi sarcoma among women in contrast to men with HIV infectio n. These data further extend the correlation of HHV-8 serological reac tivity with risk of Kaposi sarcoma and are consistent with an importan t role for HHV-8 infection in development of Kaposi sarcoma.