SEROPREVALENCE OF HHV-8 ANTIBODIES IN HIV-POSITIVE HOMOSEXUAL MEN WITHOUT KAPOSIS-SARCOMA AND THEIR CLINICAL FOLLOW-UP

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Because KS is most frequently seen in HIV-positive homosexual me n, we retrospectively evaluated the seroprevalence of HHV-8 in this ri sk group and compared the clinical history and clinical course of the HHV-8-negative and HHV-8-positive groups. The study was performed by a nalyzing banked serum samples from asymptomatic HIV-positive men. HHV- 8 seropositivity was determined by an indirect immunofluorescence test . A total of 56% of patients (42/75) were seropositive for anti-HHV-8 IgG antibodies as opposed to 12% of 40 age-matched HIV-negative contro ls. Median CD4 counts at study entry were significantly lower in the H HV-8-positive group than in the HHV-8-negative group (520 vs 686); how ever, the percentage decrease during a 30-month follow-up did not diff er significantly. KS developed in two patients during follow-up; both were HHV-8-positive and had CD4 counts of less than 200/mu L at the ti me of clinical manifestation. One HHV-8-positive patient in whom AIDS developed died of infectious complications. The longest follow-up in t he HHV-8-positive cohort without development of KS was 81 months. We c onclude that HHV-8 has a high seroprevalence in asymptomatic, homosexu al, HIV-positive persons. An HHV-8 infection can precede the developme nt of KS by many years. Immunosuppression below a certain threshold ma y trigger the clinical manifestation of KS.